[318] "But, worthy Ānanda, what is that noble aggregate of virtue (sīlakkhandha) of which the worthy Gotama spoke in praise, and in which he encouraged this populace, in which he settled them and established them?"
"Here, young man (māṇava), a Tathāgata arises in the world, an Arahant, a Perfectly Self-Awakened One, accomplished in true knowledge (vijjā) and conduct … He, having realized this world with its gods, with its Māras … proclaims the holy life (brahmacariya) entirely pure. A householder, or a householder's son, or one born afterwards into some family or other, hears that Dhamma. Having heard that Dhamma, he gains faith in the Tathāgata. Possessed of that gain of faith, he reflects thus: 'The household life is cramped, a path of dust; the going forth is the open air. It is not easy for one dwelling in a house to live the holy life absolutely perfect, absolutely pure, polished like a conch shell. Suppose I were to shave off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robes, and go forth from the household life into homelessness.' At a later time, abandoning a small mass of wealth or abandoning a great mass of wealth, abandoning a small circle of relatives or abandoning a great circle of relatives, he shaves off his hair and beard, puts on the ochre robes, and goes forth from the household life into homelessness. Having thus gone forth, 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; he is possessed of wholesome bodily action and verbal action; his livelihood is purified; he is accomplished in virtue; he guards the doors of the sense faculties; he is possessed of mindfulness and clear comprehension; he is content."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.