[357] There are, friends, ten dhammas rightly proclaimed by that Blessed One who knows and sees, the Arahant, the Perfectly Awakened One; therein all together should recite in concert … for the good, for the welfare, for the happiness of gods and humans. Which ten? The ten qualities that make a protector (nāthakaraṇā dhammā).
Here, friends, a bhikkhu is virtuous: he dwells restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults; having undertaken the training rules, he trains in them. In that a bhikkhu is virtuous, dwells restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults, and, having undertaken the training rules, trains in them — this is a quality that makes a protector.
Again, further, friends, a bhikkhu is greatly learned, a retainer of what he has heard, a storer-up of what he has heard. Those teachings that are good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end, which with meaning and with phrasing proclaim the holy life entirely complete and pure — teachings of such a kind have been much learned by him, retained, mastered verbally, examined over with the mind, well penetrated by view. In that a bhikkhu is greatly learned … well penetrated by view — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
Again, further, friends, a bhikkhu has good friends, good companions, good comrades. In that a bhikkhu has good friends, good companions, good comrades — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
Again, further, friends, a bhikkhu is easy to admonish, endowed with qualities that make him easy to admonish; he is patient and accepts instruction respectfully. In that a bhikkhu is easy to admonish, endowed with qualities that make him easy to admonish, is patient and accepts instruction respectfully — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
Again, further, friends, a bhikkhu is skilful and not lazy in the various duties, high and low, to be done for his fellows in the holy life; he is endowed with the investigation of the means suitable to them, able to carry them out, able to arrange them. In that a bhikkhu, in the various duties for his fellows in the holy life … able to arrange them — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
Again, further, friends, a bhikkhu loves the Dhamma, is pleasant in converse, and has abundant gladness in the higher Dhamma (abhidhamma) and the higher Discipline (abhivinaya). In that a bhikkhu loves the Dhamma, is pleasant in converse, and has abundant gladness in the higher Dhamma and the higher Discipline — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
Again, further, friends, a bhikkhu is content with whatever robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick he may get. In that a bhikkhu is content with whatever robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick he may get — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
Again, further, friends, a bhikkhu dwells with energy aroused for the abandoning of unwholesome qualities and the acquisition of wholesome qualities; he is strong, firm in exertion, not shirking the burden with regard to wholesome qualities. In that a bhikkhu dwells with energy aroused for the abandoning of unwholesome qualities and the acquisition of wholesome qualities, strong, firm in exertion, not shirking the burden with regard to wholesome qualities — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
Again, further, friends, a bhikkhu is possessed of mindfulness, endowed with supreme mindfulness and discretion, remembering and recollecting even what was done long ago and what was said long ago. In that a bhikkhu is possessed of mindfulness, endowed with supreme mindfulness and discretion, remembering and recollecting even what was done long ago and what was said long ago — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
Again, further, friends, a bhikkhu is wise, endowed with the wisdom that discerns rise and fall, which is noble, penetrative, leading rightly to the destruction of suffering (dukkha). In that a bhikkhu is wise, endowed with the wisdom that discerns rise and fall, which is noble, penetrative, leading rightly to the destruction of suffering — this too is a quality that makes a protector.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.