[114] Bhikkhus, possessed of four factors a king's bull elephant (nāga) is worthy of a king, is a king's possession, and is reckoned as a very factor of kingship. What four? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant is a listener, a destroyer, a patient endurer, and a goer.
And how, bhikkhus, is a king's bull elephant a listener? Here, bhikkhus, whatever task the elephant trainer sets it, whether done before or not done before, a king's bull elephant, making it his object, attending to it, directing his whole mind (citta) to it, listens with eager ears. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a king's bull elephant is a listener.
And how, bhikkhus, is a king's bull elephant a destroyer? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant, gone into battle, destroys elephants and destroys elephant-riders, destroys horses and destroys horse-riders, destroys chariots and destroys charioteers, and destroys foot soldiers. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a king's bull elephant is a destroyer.
And how, bhikkhus, is a king's bull elephant a patient endurer? Here, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant, gone into battle, patiently endures blows of spears, blows of swords, blows of arrows, and the resounding din of drums, kettledrums, conches, and tom-toms. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a king's bull elephant is a patient endurer.
And how, bhikkhus, is a king's bull elephant a goer? Here, bhikkhus, whatever quarter the elephant trainer sends it to, whether gone to before or not gone to before, a king's bull elephant goes there swiftly indeed. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a king's bull elephant is a goer. Possessed of these four factors, bhikkhus, a king's bull elephant is worthy of a king, is a king's possession, and is reckoned as a very factor of kingship.
Even so, bhikkhus, possessed of four qualities a bhikkhu is worthy of gifts (āhuneyya), worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world. What four? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is a listener, a destroyer, a patient endurer, and a goer.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu a listener? Here, bhikkhus, when the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata is being taught, a bhikkhu, making it his object, attending to it, directing his whole mind to it, listens to the Dhamma with eager ears. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu is a listener.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu a destroyer? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu does not tolerate an arisen thought of sensual pleasures; he abandons it, dispels it, terminates it, and obliterates it. He does not tolerate an arisen thought of ill will (byāpāda); he abandons it, dispels it, terminates it, and obliterates it. He does not tolerate an arisen thought of cruelty; he abandons it, dispels it, terminates it, and obliterates it. He does not tolerate evil, unwholesome dhammas whenever they arise; he abandons them, dispels them, terminates them, and obliterates them. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu is a destroyer.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu a patient endurer? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu patiently endures cold, heat, hunger, and thirst; the touch of gadflies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and creeping creatures; ill-spoken, unwelcome ways of speech; and arisen bodily feelings (vedanā) that are painful, racking, sharp, piercing, disagreeable, displeasing, and threatening to life — he is one who bears them by nature. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu is a patient endurer.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu a goer? Here, bhikkhus, that quarter never gone to before in this long stretch of time — namely, the stilling of all formations (saṅkhārā), the relinquishment of all acquisitions (upadhi), the destruction of craving (taṇhā), dispassion, cessation, Nibbāna — a bhikkhu goes there swiftly indeed. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu is a goer.
Possessed of these four qualities, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.
End of the Fourth Sutta.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.