[258] Then Sakka, lord of gods, having delighted in and approved of the Blessed One's words, asked the Blessed One a further question: "But practicing how, dear sir, is a bhikkhu one who is practicing for restraint by the Pātimokkha (pātimokkhasaṃvara)?"
"Bodily conduct (kāyasamācāra), lord of gods, I declare to be of two kinds: that which is to be cultivated and that which is not to be cultivated. Verbal conduct (vacīsamācāra), lord of gods, I declare to be of two kinds: that which is to be cultivated and that which is not to be cultivated. And search (pariyesanā), lord of gods, I declare to be of two kinds: that which is to be cultivated and that which is not to be cultivated.
"'Bodily conduct, lord of gods, I declare to be of two kinds: that which is to be cultivated and that which is not to be cultivated' — so indeed it was said. And with reference to what was this said? Herein, whatever bodily conduct one should know thus: 'When I cultivate this bodily conduct, unwholesome qualities (akusalā dhammā) increase and wholesome qualities (kusalā dhammā) decline' — bodily conduct of such a kind is not to be cultivated. Herein, whatever bodily conduct one should know thus: 'When I cultivate this bodily conduct, unwholesome qualities decline and wholesome qualities increase' — bodily conduct of such a kind is to be cultivated. 'Bodily conduct, lord of gods, I declare to be of two kinds: that which is to be cultivated and that which is not to be cultivated' — thus, what was so said, it was with reference to this that it was said.
"'Verbal conduct, lord of gods, I declare to be of two kinds: that which is to be cultivated and that which is not to be cultivated' — so indeed it was said. And with reference to what was this said? Herein, whatever verbal conduct one should know thus: 'When I cultivate this verbal conduct, unwholesome qualities increase and wholesome qualities decline' — verbal conduct of such a kind is not to be cultivated. Herein, whatever verbal conduct one should know thus: 'When I cultivate this verbal conduct, unwholesome qualities decline and wholesome qualities increase' — verbal conduct of such a kind is to be cultivated. 'Verbal conduct, lord of gods, I declare to be of two kinds: that which is to be cultivated and that which is not to be cultivated' — thus, what was so said, it was with reference to this that it was said.
"'Search, lord of gods, I declare to be of two kinds: that which is to be cultivated and that which is not to be cultivated' — so indeed it was said. And with reference to what was this said? Herein, whatever search one should know thus: 'When I cultivate this search, unwholesome qualities increase and wholesome qualities decline' — search of such a kind is not to be cultivated. Herein, whatever search one should know thus: 'When I cultivate this search, unwholesome qualities decline and wholesome qualities increase' — search of such a kind is to be cultivated. 'Search, lord of gods, I declare to be of two kinds: that which is to be cultivated and that which is not to be cultivated' — thus, what was so said, it was with reference to this that it was said.
"A bhikkhu practicing thus, lord of gods, is one who is practicing for restraint by the Pātimokkha."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.