1"Bhikkhus, I will teach you seven principles of non-decline. Listen and attend closely. I will speak."

"Yes, Bhante," those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:

"And what, bhikkhus, are the seven principles of non-decline?

(1) "As long as the bhikkhus are endowed with faith, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.

2(2) As long as they have a sense of moral shame … (3) … have moral dread … (4) … are learned … (5) … are energetic … (6) … are mindful … (7) … are wise, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.

3"Bhikkhus, as long as these seven principles of non-decline continue among the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus are seen established in them, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline."

1"Satta vo, bhikkhave, aparihāniye dhamme desessāmi. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha … pe … katame ca, bhikkhave, satta aparihāniyā dhammā?

Yāvakīvañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhū saddhā bhavissanti; vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

2Yāvakīvañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhū hirimanto bhavissanti … pe … ottappino bhavissanti … bahussutā bhavissanti … āraddhavīriyā bhavissanti … satimanto bhavissanti … paññavanto bhavissanti; vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

3Yāvakīvañca, bhikkhave, ime satta aparihāniyā dhammā bhikkhūsu ṭhassanti, imesu ca sattasu aparihāniyesu dhammesu bhikkhū sandississanti; vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihānī"ti.

Pañcamaṁ.