[32] "Bhikkhus, this night a certain … said to me: 'Venerable sir, these seven dhammas lead to a bhikkhu's (bhikkhu) non-decline. Which seven? Reverence for the Teacher (satthugāravatā), reverence for the Dhamma (dhammagāravatā), reverence for the Saṅgha (saṅghagāravatā), reverence for the training (sikkhāgāravatā), reverence for concentration (samādhi) (samādhigāravatā), being easy to admonish (sovacassatā), and having good friends (kalyāṇamittatā). These seven dhammas, venerable sir, lead to a bhikkhu's non-decline.' This, bhikkhus, is what that devatā said. Having said this, she paid homage to me, circumambulated me keeping me on her right, and vanished right there."
When this was said, the Venerable Sāriputta said to the Blessed One: "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 are without 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 … he has reverence for the Saṅgha; he has reverence for the training; he has reverence for concentration; he is easy to admonish; he himself has good friends and speaks in praise of having good friends; those other bhikkhus who do not have good friends he encourages in having good friends; 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 by me in brief in this way. Here, Sāriputta, a bhikkhu himself has reverence for the Teacher and speaks in praise of reverence for the Teacher; those other bhikkhus who are without 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 … he has reverence for the Saṅgha; he has reverence for the training; he has reverence for concentration; he is easy to admonish; he himself has good friends and speaks in praise of having good friends; those other bhikkhus who do not have good friends he encourages in having good friends; and of those other bhikkhus who have good friends he speaks praise that is true, factual, and timely. It is in this way, Sāriputta, that the meaning of this statement spoken by me in brief should be seen in detail."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.