[17] "Bhikkhus, dwell with a protector, not without a protector. One without a protector dwells in suffering (dukkha). Bhikkhus, there are these ten qualities that create a protector (nāthakaraṇā dhammā). What ten?
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. In that a bhikkhu is virtuous … and, having undertaken the training rules, trains in them — this too is a quality that creates a protector.
Further, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is learned, a bearer of what he has heard, an accumulator of what he has heard; those teachings that are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, which, with their meaning and phrasing, proclaim the holy life utterly complete and pure — of such teachings he has heard much, retained them in mind, recited them verbally, examined them with the mind, and penetrated them well by view. In that a bhikkhu is learned … penetrated them well by view — this too is a quality that creates a protector.
Further, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has good friends, good companions, good comrades. In that a bhikkhu has good friends, good companions, good comrades — this too is a quality that creates a protector.
Further, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is easy to admonish, endowed with qualities that make him easy to admonish; he is patient and receives instruction respectfully. In that a bhikkhu is easy to admonish, endowed with qualities that make him easy to admonish, patient, receiving instruction respectfully — this too is a quality that creates a protector.
Further, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is skilled and diligent in the various duties, high and low, to be done for his fellows in the holy life; he is endowed with investigation into the proper means for them, able to carry them out, able to arrange them. In that a bhikkhu, with regard to the various duties, high and low, of his fellows in the holy life … is able to carry them out, able to arrange them — this too is a quality that creates a protector.
Further, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu loves the Dhamma, is pleasing in his converse, and takes lofty delight in the higher Dhamma and the higher Discipline. In that a bhikkhu loves the Dhamma, is pleasing in his converse, and takes lofty delight in the higher Dhamma and the higher Discipline — this too is a quality that creates a protector.
Further, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu 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 shirking the burden with regard to wholesome states. In that a bhikkhu dwells with energy aroused for the abandoning of unwholesome states and for the acquisition of wholesome states, strong, firm in exertion, not shirking the burden with regard to wholesome states — this too is a quality that creates a protector.
Further, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is content with whatever robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick he may obtain. In that a bhikkhu is content with whatever robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick he may obtain — this too is a quality that creates a protector.
Further, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is mindful, endowed with supreme mindfulness and discretion, one who remembers and recollects what was done and said even long ago. In that a bhikkhu is mindful, endowed with supreme mindfulness and discretion, remembering and recollecting what was done and said even long ago — this too is a quality that creates a protector.
Further, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is wise, endowed with wisdom that discerns rise and fall, which is noble and penetrative, leading rightly to the destruction of suffering. In that a bhikkhu is wise, endowed with wisdom that discerns rise and fall, which is noble and penetrative, leading rightly to the destruction of suffering — this too is a quality that creates a protector.
Bhikkhus, dwell with a protector, not without a protector. One without a protector dwells in suffering. These, bhikkhus, are the ten qualities that create a protector."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.