[340] Then a certain deity, when the night was far advanced, of surpassing beauty, illuminating the entire Jetavana, approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, the deity stood to one side. Standing to one side, that deity said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, these six dhammas lead to a bhikkhu's non-decline. What six? Reverence for the Teacher (satthu-gāravatā), reverence for the Dhamma (dhamma-gāravatā), reverence for the Saṅgha (saṅgha-gāravatā), reverence for the training (sikkhā-gāravatā), amenability to correction (sovacassatā), and good friendship (kalyāṇamittatā). These six dhammas, venerable sir, lead to a bhikkhu's non-decline." This is what that deity said. The Teacher approved. Then that deity, [thinking,] "The Teacher approves of me," paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on the right, and vanished right there.
Then, when that night had passed, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, this night a certain deity, when the night was far advanced, of surpassing beauty, illuminating the entire Jetavana, approached me; having approached and paid homage to me, the deity stood to one side. Standing to one side, bhikkhus, that deity said this to me: 'Venerable sir, these six dhammas lead to a bhikkhu's non-decline. What six? Reverence for the Teacher, reverence for the Dhamma, reverence for the Saṅgha, reverence for the training, amenability to correction, and good friendship. These six dhammas, venerable sir, lead to a bhikkhu's non-decline.' This is what that deity said, bhikkhus. Having said this, the deity paid homage to me, circumambulated me keeping me on the right, and vanished right there."
When this was said, the Venerable Sāriputta paid homage to the Blessed One and said this: "Venerable sir, I understand in detail the meaning of this statement spoken in brief by the Blessed One thus: Here, venerable sir, a bhikkhu himself has reverence for the Teacher and speaks in praise of reverence for the Teacher; those other bhikkhus who lack reverence for the Teacher he encourages in reverence for the Teacher; and of those other bhikkhus who have reverence for the Teacher he speaks praise that is true, factual, and timely. He himself has reverence for the Dhamma … has reverence for the Saṅgha … has reverence for the training … is himself easy to admonish … he himself has good friends and speaks in praise of good friendship; those other bhikkhus who lack good friends he encourages in good friendship; and of those other bhikkhus who have good friends he speaks praise that is true, factual, and timely. It is in this way, venerable sir, that I understand in detail the meaning of this statement spoken in brief by the Blessed One."
"Good, good, Sāriputta! It is good, Sāriputta, that you understand in detail the meaning of this statement spoken in brief by me thus: Here, Sāriputta, a bhikkhu himself has reverence for the Teacher and speaks in praise of reverence for the Teacher; those other bhikkhus who lack reverence for the Teacher he encourages in reverence for the Teacher; and of those other bhikkhus who have reverence for the Teacher he speaks praise that is true, factual, and timely. He himself has reverence for the Dhamma … has reverence for the Saṅgha … has reverence for the training … is himself easy to admonish … he himself has good friends and speaks in praise of good friendship; those other bhikkhus who lack good friends he encourages in good friendship; and of those other bhikkhus who have good friends he speaks praise that is true, factual, and timely. Sāriputta, the meaning of this statement spoken in brief by me should be seen in detail in this way."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.