[337] Sitting to one side, King Pasenadi of Kosala said this to the Blessed One: "Here, venerable sir, while I was alone in seclusion, this reflection arose in my mind: 'For whom now is the self (attā) protected? For whom now is the self unprotected?' Then, venerable sir, it occurred to me: 'Those who engage in misconduct (duccarita) by body, engage in misconduct by speech, and engage in misconduct by mind — for them the self is unprotected. Even though a company of elephants were to protect them, or a company of cavalry were to protect them, or a company of chariots were to protect them, or a company of infantry were to protect them, still for them the self is unprotected. For what reason? Because this protection is external; this protection is not internal. Therefore for them the self is unprotected. But those who engage in good conduct (sucarita) by body, engage in good conduct by speech, and engage in good conduct by mind — for them the self is protected. Even though no company of elephants were to protect them, no company of cavalry were to protect them, no company of chariots were to protect them, and no company of infantry were to protect them, still for them the self is protected. For what reason? Because this protection is internal; this protection is not external. Therefore for them the self is protected.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.