Ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā sakkesu viharati sāmagāmake pokkharaṇiyāyaṃ. Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṃ pokkharaṇiyaṃ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṃ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṃ etadavoca:

On one occasion, the Bhagavā was dwelling among the Sakyans, in Sāmagāma, at the lotus pond. On that occasion, when the night had advanced, a certain deva of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire lotus pond, approached the Bhagavā; having approached and paid homage to the Bhagavā, he stood on one side. Standing on one side, that deva said to the Bhagavā:

– Tayome, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṃvattanti. Katame tayo? Kammārāmatā, bhassārāmatā, niddārāmatā: ime kho, bhante, tayo dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṃvattantī ti.

– These three dhammas, bhante, lead to the deterioration of a bhikkhu. Which three? Delight in activities, delight in talking, delight in sleep: these three dhammas, bhante, lead to the deterioration of a bhikkhu.

Idamavoca sā devatā. Samanuñño satthā ahosi. Atha kho sā devatā: ‘‘samanuñño me satthā’’ti bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṃ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi. Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi:

Thus spoke that deva. The Teacher approved. Then, understanding: 'The teacher aprroves of me', having paid homage to the Bhagavā and having done the padakkhina, that deva just disappeared. Then, at the end of the night, the Bhagavā addressed the bhikkhus:

– Imaṃ, bhikkhave, rattiṃ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṃ pokkharaṇiyaṃ obhāsetvā yenāhaṃ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṃ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, sā devatā maṃ etadavoca: ‘tayome, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṃvattanti. Katame tayo? Kammārāmatā, bhassārāmatā, niddārāmatā: ime kho, bhante, tayo dhammā bhikkhuno parihānāya saṃvattantī’ti. Idamavoca, bhikkhave, sā devatā. Idaṃ vatvā maṃ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṃ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi. Tesaṃ vo, bhikkhave, alābhā tesaṃ dulladdhaṃ, ye vo devatāpi jānanti kusalehi dhammehi parihāyamāne.

– This night, bhikkhus, when the night had advanced, a certain deva of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire lotus pond, approached me; having approached and paid homage to me, he stood on one side. Standing on one side, that deva said to me: 'These three dhammas, bhante, lead to the deterioration of a bhikkhu. Which three? Delight in activities, delight in talking, delight in sleep: these three dhammas, bhante, lead to the deterioration of a bhikkhu.' Thus, bhikkhus, spoke that deva. Having spoken thus, having paid homage to me and having done the padakkhina, he just disappeared. It is of no gain for you, bhikkhus, it has been badly obtained that even the devas know about the deterioration in kusala dhammas.{n}

Aparepi, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniye dhamme desessāmi. Taṃ suṇātha, sādhukaṃ manasi karotha; bhāsissāmī ti.

I will teach, bhikkhus, three additional dhammas connected with deterioration. Listen to that, pay close attention; I will speak.

– Evaṃ, bhante ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṃ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

– Yes, bhante, replied the bhikkhus. The Bhagavā said:

– Katame ca, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniyā dhammā? Saṅgaṇikārāmatā, dovacassatā, pāpamittatā: ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo parihāniyā dhammā.

– And which, bhikkhus, are the three dhammas connected with deterioration? Delight in socialization, unruliness, and evil friendship: these, bhikkhus, are the three dhammas connected with deterioration.

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṃ parihāyiṃsu kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyiṃsu kusalehi dhammehi. Yepi hi keci, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṃ parihāyissanti kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyissanti kusalehi dhammehi. Yepi hi keci, bhikkhave, etarahi parihāyanti kusalehi dhammehi, sabbete imeheva chahi dhammehi parihāyanti kusalehi dhammehī ti.

Those, bhikkhus, who, in the long course of the past, have deteriorated in kusala dhammas, all of them have deteriorated in kusala dhammas on account of these six dhammas. Those, bhikkhus, who, in the long course of the future, will deteriorate in kusala dhammas, all of them will deteriorate in kusala dhammas on account of these six dhammas. Those, bhikkhus, who, at present, are deteriorating in kusala dhammas, all of them are deteriorating in kusala dhammas on account of these six dhammas.