[103] Bhikkhus, possessing eight factors a king's fine thoroughbred horse is worthy of a king, fit for a king's use, and is reckoned as a very factor of the king. What eight? Here, bhikkhus, a king's fine thoroughbred horse is well born on both sides, on the mother's side and on the father's side, born in the region where other fine thoroughbred horses are born. Whatever food they give him, whether moist or dry, he eats it carefully, without scattering it. He is fastidious about sitting down or lying down in feces or urine. He is gentle, pleasant to live with, and does not agitate other horses. Whatever deceits, tricks, twists, and wiles he has, he shows them as they really are (yathābhūta) to his trainer, and his trainer strives to subdue them. He is a bearer of burdens, arousing the thought: "Whether or not the other horses bear the load, I will bear it here." When going, he goes only by the straight road. He is strong, exerting his strength until life is exhausted in death. Possessing these eight factors, bhikkhus, a king's fine thoroughbred horse is worthy of a king, fit for a king's use, and is reckoned as a very factor of the king.
So too, bhikkhus, possessing eight qualities a bhikkhu is worthy of gifts … an unsurpassed field of merit for the world. What eight? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is virtuous; he dwells restrained by the restraint of the Pātimokkha, accomplished in conduct and resort, seeing danger in the slightest faults; having undertaken the training rules, he trains in them. Whatever food they give him, whether coarse or fine, he eats it carefully, without being troubled. He is fastidious: he is repelled by bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, and mental misconduct, repelled by the attainment of evil, unwholesome dhammas. He is gentle, pleasant to live with, and does not agitate other bhikkhus. Whatever deceits, tricks, twists, and wiles he has, he reveals them as they really are to the Teacher or to his wise companions in the holy life, and the Teacher or his wise companions in the holy life strive to subdue them. He is one who trains, arousing the thought: "Whether or not the other bhikkhus train, I will train here." When going, he goes only by the straight path; and herein this is the straight path, namely: right view … right concentration (sammāsamādhi). He dwells with energy (vīriya) aroused: "Willingly, let only skin, sinews, and bone remain; let the flesh and blood in this body dry up: there shall be no slackening of energy so long as I have not attained what can be attained by manly strength, manly energy, and manly exertion." Possessing these eight 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.