Mahaparinibbanasuttam (DN 16) - Ancient Buddhist Texts

The First Chapter for Recitation - 26
āgatā ca pesalā sabrahmacārī phāsuṁ vihareyyuṁ,
and having come to their fellow celibates, who are well-behaved, can live comfortably,
vuḍḍhi yeva bhikkhave bhikkhūnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā no parihāni.
surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline.
Yāvakīvañ-ca bhikkhave ime satta aparihāniyā dhammā bhikkhūsu ṭhassanti,
For as long, monks, as the monks will maintain these seven things which prevent
decline,
imesu ca sattasu aparihāniyesu dhammesu bhikkhū sandississanti,
and the monks will agree with these seven things which prevent decline,
vuḍḍhi yeva bhikkhave bhikkhūnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā no parihāni.
surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline.
[4: Apare Satta Saṅgha-Aparihāniyā Dhammā] 43
[Seven Further Things which Prevent Decline in the Community (8-14)]
Apare pi vo bhikkhave satta aparihāniye dhamme desessāmi,
I will teach you a further seven things which prevent decline,
taṁ suṇātha sādhukaṁ manasikarotha bhāsissāmī ti.”
listen to it, apply your minds well, and I will speak.”
“Evaṁ Bhante,” ti kho te bhikkhū Bhagavato paccassosuṁ,
“Very well, reverend Sir,” those monks replied to the Gracious One,
Bhagavā etad-avoca:
and the Gracious One said this:
1) “Yāvakīvañ-ca bhikkhave bhikkhū na kammārāmā bhavissanti,
* “For as long, monks, as the monks are not devoted to the pleasure in work,
na kammaratā na kammārāmataṁ anuyuttā,
the delight in work, and are not attached to work,
vuḍḍhi yeva bhikkhave bhikkhūnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā no parihāni.
surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. 44
43 cf. AN Bk. 7.24. I believe this and the next four sections are additions. See the Introduction.
44 The Commentary explains that the monks should, of course, do their duties at the proper time,
and devote themselves to study and meditation at other times.