[537] "Bhikkhus, possessing three factors, a king's fine thoroughbred horse is worthy of a king, fit for a king's service, and is reckoned as a very factor of kingship. What three? Here, bhikkhus, a king's fine thoroughbred horse is endowed with beauty, endowed with strength, and endowed with speed. Possessing these three factors, bhikkhus, a king's fine thoroughbred horse is worthy of a king, fit for a king's service, and is reckoned as a very factor of kingship.
"Just so, bhikkhus, possessing three qualities a bhikkhu is worthy of gifts (āhuneyya) … an unsurpassed field of merit (puññakkhetta) for the world. What three? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is endowed with beauty, endowed with strength, and endowed with speed.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu endowed with beauty? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is virtuous … he trains in the training rules he has undertaken. It is thus, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu is endowed with beauty.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu endowed with strength? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells with energy (vīriya) aroused … not shirking the burden with regard to wholesome dhammas. It is thus, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu is endowed with strength.
"And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu endowed with speed? Here, bhikkhus, with the utter destruction of the five lower fetters (saṃyojana), a bhikkhu becomes one of spontaneous rebirth (opapātika), due to attain final Nibbāna there, not subject to returning from that world. It is thus, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu is endowed with speed.
"Possessing these three qualities, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is worthy of gifts … an unsurpassed field of merit for the world."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.