Mahānāgattheragāthā

Suttapiṭaka · Khuddakanikāya · Vimānavatthu · Petavatthu · Theragāthā · Therīgāthā · Vol. 26 · Section 349

[349] 3. He in whom no reverence is found toward his companions in the holy life (sabrahmacārī) falls away from the true Dhamma (saddhamma), like a fish in little water. He in whom no reverence is found toward his companions in the holy life does not grow in the true Dhamma, like a rotten seed in a field. He in whom no reverence is found toward his companions in the holy life is far from Nibbāna in the dispensation (sāsana) of the King of the Dhamma (dhammarāja). He in whom reverence is found toward his companions in the holy life does not fall away from the true Dhamma, like a fish in abundant water. He in whom reverence is found toward his companions in the holy life grows in the true Dhamma, like a good seed in a field. He in whom reverence is found toward his companions in the holy life — Nibbāna is near at hand, in the dispensation of the King of the Dhamma. Mahānāga Thera.

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.