[1] Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, what is the purpose of wholesome virtuous conduct (kusalāni sīlāni)? What is its benefit?"
"Non-regret (avippaṭisāra), Ānanda, is the purpose of wholesome virtuous conduct; non-regret is its benefit."
"But, venerable sir, what is the purpose of non-regret? What is its benefit?"
"Gladness (pāmojja), Ānanda, is the purpose of non-regret; gladness is its benefit."
"But, venerable sir, what is the purpose of gladness? What is its benefit?"
"Rapture (pīti), Ānanda, is the purpose of gladness; rapture is its benefit."
"But, venerable sir, what is the purpose of rapture? What is its benefit?"
"Tranquility (passaddhi), Ānanda, is the purpose of rapture; tranquility is its benefit."
"But, venerable sir, what is the purpose of tranquility? What is its benefit?"
"Happiness (sukha), Ānanda, is the purpose of tranquility; happiness is its benefit."
"But, venerable sir, what is the purpose of happiness? What is its benefit?"
"Concentration (samādhi), Ānanda, is the purpose of happiness; concentration is its benefit."
"But, venerable sir, what is the purpose of concentration? What is its benefit?"
"Knowledge and vision of things as they really are (yathābhūtañāṇadassana), Ānanda, is the purpose of concentration; knowledge and vision of things as they really are is its benefit."
"But, venerable sir, what is the purpose of knowledge and vision of things as they really are? What is its benefit?"
"Disenchantment and dispassion (nibbidāvirāga), Ānanda, is the purpose of knowledge and vision of things as they really are; disenchantment and dispassion is its benefit."
"But, venerable sir, what is the purpose of disenchantment and dispassion? What is its benefit?"
"Knowledge and vision of liberation (vimuttiñāṇadassana), Ānanda, is the purpose of disenchantment and dispassion; knowledge and vision of liberation is its benefit.
"Thus, Ānanda, wholesome virtuous conduct has non-regret as its purpose, non-regret as its benefit; non-regret has gladness as its purpose, gladness as its benefit; gladness has rapture as its purpose, rapture as its benefit; rapture has tranquility as its purpose, tranquility as its benefit; tranquility has happiness as its purpose, happiness as its benefit; happiness has concentration as its purpose, concentration as its benefit; concentration has knowledge and vision of things as they really are as its purpose, knowledge and vision of things as they really are as its benefit; knowledge and vision of things as they really are has disenchantment and dispassion as its purpose, disenchantment and dispassion as its benefit; disenchantment and dispassion has knowledge and vision of liberation as its purpose, knowledge and vision of liberation as its benefit. Thus, Ānanda, wholesome virtuous conduct progressively leads to fulfillment in arahantship."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.