[64] Bhikkhus, when a king's frontier city is well provided with seven requisites of a city, and obtains at will, without trouble, without difficulty, four kinds of food, then this is called a king's frontier city that cannot be assailed by external foes and hostile enemies.
With what seven requisites of a city is it well provided? Here, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city there is a pillar with deep foundations, well planted, immovable, unshakeable. With this first requisite of a city the king's frontier city is well provided, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without.
Again, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city there is a moat, both deep and wide. With this second requisite of a city the king's frontier city is well provided, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without.
Again, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city there is an encircling path, both high and wide. With this third requisite of a city the king's frontier city is well provided, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without.
Again, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city many weapons are stored up, both missiles (salāka) and hand weapons (jevanika). With this fourth requisite of a city the king's frontier city is well provided, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without.
Again, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city many kinds of troops reside, namely: elephant riders, cavalry, charioteers, archers, standard-bearers, camp marshals, provisioners, fierce princes, commandos, great warriors, heroes, mail-clad fighters (papphālikā), leather-clad warriors, and sons of slaves. With this fifth requisite of a city the king's frontier city is well provided, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without.
Again, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city there is a gatekeeper — wise, competent, intelligent — who keeps out those unknown and admits those known. With this sixth requisite of a city the king's frontier city is well provided, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without.
Again, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city there is a rampart, both high and wide, covered over with plaster. With this seventh requisite of a city the king's frontier city is well provided, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without. With these seven requisites of a city it is well provided.
What four kinds of food does it obtain at will, without trouble, without difficulty? Here, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city much grass, timber, and water are stored up — for the delight, ease, and comfortable dwelling of those within, and for warding off those without.
Again, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city much rice and barley are stored up — for the delight, ease, and comfortable dwelling of those within, and for warding off those without.
Again, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city much sesame, green gram, beans, and other grains are stored up — for the delight, ease, and comfortable dwelling of those within, and for warding off those without.
Again, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city much medicine is stored up, namely: ghee, fresh butter, oil, honey, molasses, and salt — for the delight, ease, and comfortable dwelling of those within, and for warding off those without.
These four kinds of food it obtains at will, without trouble, without difficulty. When, bhikkhus, a king's frontier city is well provided with the seven requisites of a city and obtains at will, without trouble, without difficulty, the four kinds of food, this is called a king's frontier city that cannot be assailed by external foes and hostile enemies.
In just the same way, bhikkhus, when a noble disciple is endowed with seven good qualities (saddhamma), and obtains at will, without trouble, without difficulty, the four jhānas that pertain to the higher mind (citta) and are pleasant dwellings in this very life, then this noble disciple is called one who cannot be assailed by Māra, who cannot be assailed by the Evil One.
With what seven good qualities is he endowed? Just as, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city there is a pillar with deep foundations, well planted, immovable, unshakeable, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without — even so, bhikkhus, a noble disciple has faith; he has faith in the awakening of the Tathāgata thus: "That Blessed One is thus … the Buddha, the Blessed One." With faith as his pillar, bhikkhus, the noble disciple abandons the unwholesome and develops the wholesome, abandons the blameworthy and develops the blameless, and maintains himself in purity. With this first good quality he is endowed.
Just as, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city there is a moat, both deep and wide, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without — even so, bhikkhus, a noble disciple has moral shame (hiri): he is ashamed of misconduct by body, misconduct by speech, and misconduct by mind; he is ashamed of engaging in evil, unwholesome states. With moral shame as his moat, bhikkhus, the noble disciple abandons the unwholesome and develops the wholesome, abandons the blameworthy and develops the blameless, and maintains himself in purity. With this second good quality he is endowed.
Just as, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city there is an encircling path, both high and wide, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without — even so, bhikkhus, a noble disciple has moral dread (ottappa): he dreads misconduct by body, misconduct by speech, and misconduct by mind; he dreads engaging in evil, unwholesome states. With moral dread as his encircling path, bhikkhus, the noble disciple abandons the unwholesome and develops the wholesome, abandons the blameworthy and develops the blameless, and maintains himself in purity. With this third good quality he is endowed.
Just as, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city many weapons are stored up, both missiles and hand weapons, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without — even so, bhikkhus, a noble disciple is of great learning … well penetrated by view. With learning as his weapon, bhikkhus, the noble disciple abandons the unwholesome and develops the wholesome, abandons the blameworthy and develops the blameless, and maintains himself in purity. With this fourth good quality he is endowed.
Just as, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city many kinds of troops reside, namely: elephant riders, cavalry, charioteers, archers, standard-bearers, camp marshals, provisioners, fierce princes, commandos, great warriors, heroes, mail-clad fighters, leather-clad warriors, and sons of slaves, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without — even so, bhikkhus, a noble disciple dwells with energy (vīriya) aroused for the abandoning of unwholesome states and for the acquisition of wholesome states; he is strong, firm in exertion, not laying down the burden with regard to wholesome states. With energy as his body of troops, bhikkhus, the noble disciple abandons the unwholesome and develops the wholesome, abandons the blameworthy and develops the blameless, and maintains himself in purity. With this fifth good quality he is endowed.
Just as, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city there is a gatekeeper — wise, competent, intelligent — who keeps out those unknown and admits those known, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without — even so, bhikkhus, a noble disciple has mindfulness (sati): he is endowed with supreme mindfulness and discretion, one who remembers and recollects what was done long ago and what was said long ago. With mindfulness as his gatekeeper, bhikkhus, the noble disciple abandons the unwholesome and develops the wholesome, abandons the blameworthy and develops the blameless, and maintains himself in purity. With this sixth good quality he is endowed.
Just as, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city there is a rampart, both high and wide, covered over with plaster, for the protection of those within and for warding off those without — even so, bhikkhus, a noble disciple is wise: he is endowed with wisdom directed to arising and passing away, which is noble and penetrative and leads to the complete destruction of suffering (dukkha). With wisdom as his coat of plaster, bhikkhus, the noble disciple abandons the unwholesome and develops the wholesome, abandons the blameworthy and develops the blameless, and maintains himself in purity. With this seventh good quality he is endowed. With these seven good qualities he is endowed.
What are the four jhānas, pertaining to the higher mind, pleasant dwellings in this very life, that he obtains at will, without trouble, without difficulty? Just as, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city much grass, timber, and water are stored up, for the delight, ease, and comfortable dwelling of those within and for warding off those without — even so, bhikkhus, a noble disciple, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, … enters and dwells in the first jhāna — for his own delight, ease, and comfortable dwelling, and for entering upon Nibbāna.
Just as, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city much rice and barley are stored up, for the delight, ease, and comfortable dwelling of those within and for warding off those without — even so, bhikkhus, a noble disciple, with the subsiding of thought and examination, … enters and dwells in the second jhāna — for his own delight, ease, and comfortable dwelling, and for entering upon Nibbāna.
Just as, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city much sesame, green gram, beans, and other grains are stored up, for the delight, ease, and comfortable dwelling of those within and for warding off those without — even so, bhikkhus, a noble disciple, with the fading away of rapture (pīti) as well, … enters and dwells in the third jhāna — for his own delight, ease, and comfortable dwelling, and for entering upon Nibbāna.
Just as, bhikkhus, in a king's frontier city much medicine is stored up, namely: ghee, fresh butter, oil, honey, molasses, and salt, for the delight, ease, and comfortable dwelling of those within and for warding off those without — even so, bhikkhus, a noble disciple, with the abandoning of pleasure, … enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna — for his own delight, ease, and comfortable dwelling, and for entering upon Nibbāna.
These four jhānas, pertaining to the higher mind, pleasant dwellings in this very life, he obtains at will, without trouble, without difficulty. When, bhikkhus, a noble disciple is endowed with these seven good qualities and obtains at will, without trouble, without difficulty, these four jhānas, pertaining to the higher mind, pleasant dwellings in this very life, then this noble disciple is called one who cannot be assailed by Māra, who cannot be assailed by the Evil One.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.