1At Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove. Then the Venerable Mahākassapa approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side. The Blessed One then said to him: "Exhort the bhikkhus, Kassapa, give them a Dhamma talk. Either I should exhort the bhikkhus, Kassapa, sn.ii.206 or you should. Either I should give them a Dhamma talk or you should."

2"Venerable sir, the bhikkhus are difficult to admonish now, and they have qualities which make them difficult to admonish. They are impatient and do not accept instruction respectfully. Venerable sir, [n.283] The following, slightly expanded and including the simile of the moon, is also at AN V 123,10–124,19, ascribed to Sāriputta. There too the Buddha approves of the disciple's statement and repeats it in full. for one who has no faith in regard to wholesome states, no sense of shame, no fear of wrongdoing, no energy, and no wisdom, whether day or night comes only decline is to be expected in regard to wholesome states, not growth.

3Just as, during the dark fortnight, whether day or night comes the moon declines in colour, circularity, and luminosity, in diameter and circumference, so too, venerable sir, for one who has no faith in wholesome states, no sense of shame, no fear of wrongdoing, no energy, and no wisdom, whether day or night comes only decline is to be expected in regard to wholesome states, not growth.

4"A person without faith, venerable sir: this is a case of decline. A person without a sense of shame … who is unafraid of wrongdoing … who is lazy … unwise … angry … malicious: this is a case of decline. When there are no bhikkhus who are exhorters: this is a case of decline.

5"Venerable sir, for one who has faith in regard to wholesome states, a sense of shame, fear of wrongdoing, energy, and wisdom, whether day or night comes only growth is to be expected in regard to wholesome states, not decline.

6Just as, during the bright fortnight, whether day or night comes the moon grows in colour, circularity, sn.ii.207 and luminosity, in diameter and circumference, so too, venerable sir, for one who has faith in wholesome states, a sense of shame, fear of wrongdoing, energy, and wisdom, whether day or night comes only growth is to be expected in regard to wholesome states, not decline.

7"A person with faith, venerable sir: this is a case of nondecline. A person with a sense of shame … who is afraid of wrongdoing … energetic … wise … without anger … without malice: this is a case of nondecline. When there are bhikkhus who are exhorters: this is a case of nondecline."

8–12"Good, good, Kassapa!"
The Buddha then repeats the entire statement of the Venerable Mahākassapa. sn.ii.208

1Rājagahe vihārati veḷuvane. Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami … pe … ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ mahākassapaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: "ovada, kassapa, bhikkhū; karohi, kassapa, bhikkhūnaṁ dhammiṁ kathaṁ. Ahaṁ vā, kassapa, bhikkhū ovadeyyaṁ tvaṁ vā; ahaṁ vā bhikkhūnaṁ dhammiṁ kathaṁ kareyyaṁ tvaṁ vā"ti.

2"Dubbacā kho, bhante, etarahi bhikkhū, dovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgatā akkhamā appadakkhiṇaggāhino anusāsaniṁ. Yassa kassaci, bhante, saddhā natthi kusalesu dhammesu, hirī natthi kusalesu dhammesu, ottappaṁ natthi kusalesu dhammesu, vīriyaṁ natthi kusalesu dhammesu, paññā natthi kusalesu dhammesu, tassa yā ratti vā divaso vā āgacchati, hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no vuddhi.

3Seyyathāpi, bhante, kāḷapakkhe candassa yā ratti vā divaso vā āgacchati, hāyateva vaṇṇena, hāyati maṇḍalena, hāyati ābhāya, hāyati ārohapariṇāhena. Evameva kho, bhante, yassa kassaci saddhā natthi kusalesu dhammesu … pe … hirī natthi … ottappaṁ natthi … vīriyaṁ natthi … paññā natthi … kusalesu dhammesu tassa yā ratti vā divaso vā āgacchati, hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no vuddhi.

4‘Assaddho purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ; ‘ahiriko purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ; ‘anottappī purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ; ‘kusīto purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ; ‘duppañño purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ; ‘kodhano purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ; ‘upanāhī purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ; ‘Na santi bhikkhū ovādakā’ti, bhante, parihānametaṁ.

5Yassa kassaci, bhante, saddhā atthi kusalesu dhammesu, hirī atthi kusalesu dhammesu, ottappaṁ atthi kusalesu dhammesu, vīriyaṁ atthi kusalesu dhammesu, paññā atthi kusalesu dhammesu, tassa yā ratti vā divaso vā āgacchati, vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.

6Seyyathāpi, bhante, juṇhapakkhe candassa yā ratti vā divaso vā āgacchati, vaḍḍhateva vaṇṇena, vaḍḍhati maṇḍalena, vaḍḍhati ābhāya, vaḍḍhati ārohapariṇāhena. Evameva kho, bhante, yassa kassaci saddhā atthi kusalesu dhammesu … hirī atthi … pe … ottappaṁ atthi … vīriyaṁ atthi … paññā atthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa yā ratti vā divaso vā āgacchati, vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.

7‘Saddho purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ; ‘hirimā purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ; ‘ottappī purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ; ‘āraddhavīriyo purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ; ‘paññavā purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ; ‘akkodhano purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ; ‘anupanāhī purisapuggalo’ti, bhante, aparihānametaṁ; ‘santi bhikkhū ovādakā’ti, bhante, aparihānametan"ti.

8"Sādhu sādhu, kassapa. Yassa kassaci, kassapa, saddhā natthi kusalesu dhammesu … pe … hirī natthi … ottappaṁ natthi … vīriyaṁ natthi … paññā natthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa yā ratti vā divaso vā āgacchati, hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no vuddhi.

9Seyyathāpi, kassapa, kāḷapakkhe candassa yā ratti vā divaso vā āgacchati, hāyateva vaṇṇena … pe … hāyati ārohapariṇāhena. Evameva kho, kassapa, yassa kassaci saddhā natthi kusalesu dhammesu … pe … hirī natthi … ottappaṁ natthi … vīriyaṁ natthi … paññā natthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa yā ratti vā divaso vā āgacchati, hāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no vuddhi. ‘Assaddho purisapuggalo’ti, kassapa, parihānametaṁ; ahiriko … pe … anottappī … kusīto … duppañño … kodhano … ‘upanāhī purisapuggalo’ti, kassapa, parihānametaṁ; ‘Na santi bhikkhū ovādakā’ti, kassapa, parihānametaṁ.

10Yassa kassaci, kassapa, saddhā atthi kusalesu dhammesu … pe … hirī atthi … ottappaṁ atthi … vīriyaṁ atthi … paññā atthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa yā ratti vā divaso vā āgacchati, vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.

11Seyyathāpi, kassapa, juṇhapakkhe candassa yā ratti vā divaso vā āgacchati, vaḍḍhateva vaṇṇena, vaḍḍhati maṇḍalena, vaḍḍhati ābhāya, vaḍḍhati ārohapariṇāhena. Evameva kho, kassapa, yassa kassaci saddhā atthi kusalesu dhammesu hirī atthi … ottappaṁ atthi … vīriyaṁ atthi … paññā atthi kusalesu dhammesu tassa yā ratti vā divaso vā āgacchati, vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.

12‘Saddho purisapuggalo’ti, kassapa, aparihānametaṁ; hirimā … pe … ottappī … āraddhavīriyo … paññavā … akkodhano … ‘anupanāhī purisapuggalo’ti, kassapa, aparihānametaṁ; ‘santi bhikkhū ovādakā’ti, kassapa, aparihānametan"ti.

Sattamaṁ.