[518] Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. As the Venerable Ānanda was sitting to one side, the Blessed One said this to him: "Ānanda, is every precept and observance (sīlabbata), every way of life, every holy life (brahmacariya) that is treated as the essence of devoted service fruitful?"
"Not one-sidedly so, venerable sir."
"Then, Ānanda, analyze it."
"Venerable sir, when, for one cultivating a precept and observance, a way of life, a holy life treated as the essence of devoted service, unwholesome states increase and wholesome states decline, a precept and observance, way of life, and holy life treated as the essence of devoted service of such a kind is fruitless. But when, venerable sir, for one cultivating a precept and observance, a way of life, a holy life treated as the essence of devoted service, unwholesome states decline and wholesome states increase, a precept and observance, way of life, and holy life treated as the essence of devoted service of such a kind is fruitful."
This is what the Venerable Ānanda said; the Teacher approved. Then the Venerable Ānanda, thinking, "The Teacher approves of me," rose from his seat, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping his right side toward him, and departed. Then, not long after the Venerable Ānanda had departed, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, Ānanda is a learner (sekha), yet one who is fully his equal in wisdom is not easily found."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.