[774] "Friend Ānanda, what now is the cause, what is the reason, whereby the decline of the true Dhamma (saddhamma) comes about? What now, friend Ānanda, is the cause, what is the reason, whereby the non-decline of the true Dhamma comes about?"
"Good, good, friend Bhadda! Excellent (bhaddaka), friend Bhadda, is your line of inquiry (ummagga); excellent is your discernment (paṭibhāṇa); good is your questioning. For thus, friend Bhadda, do you ask: 'Friend Ānanda, what now is the cause, what is the reason, whereby the decline of the true Dhamma comes about? And what, friend Ānanda, is the cause, what is the reason, whereby the non-decline of the true Dhamma comes about?'"
"Yes, friend."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.