1 At Savatthi: However much, O bhikkhus, a Wheel Turning Monarch, having exercised over-lordship and sovereignty over the four continents, with the breakup of the body, after death, arises in a good destination, the heavenly world in companionship with the devas of Tavatimsa, [and] there in the Nandana Grove surrounded by a multitude of nymphs, amuses himself being furnished and endowed with the five cords of divine sensual pleasure, he is not endowed with four dhammas, so he is not freed from hell, not freed from the animal womb, not freed from the sphere of ghost, not freed from the lower worlds, unhappy destination, the woeful plane. However much, O bhikkhus, a noble disciple sustains himself with alms food, and wears rag robes, he is endowed with four dhammas, so he is freed from hell, freed from the animal womb, freed from the sphere of ghost, freed from the lower worlds, unhappy destination, the woeful plane.

2 Which four? Here, O bhikkhus, a noble disciple is endowed with confirmed faith in the Buddha: “Truly is he the Auspicious One, the Arahant, rightly self-awakened, excelling in knowledge and conduct, well-farer, knower of worlds, incomparable charioteer of tamed persons, teacher of devas and humans, awakened, auspicious.” He is endowed with confirmed faith in the Dhamma: “The Dhamma is well-proclaimed by the Auspicious One, visible in this life, not involving time, inviting inspection, leading onward, to be comprehended by the wise, each one for one's self.” He is endowed with confirmed faith in the Sangha: “The Sangha of the Auspicious One’s disciples have entered upon the good path, the Sangha of the Auspicious One’s disciples have entered upon the straight path, the Sangha of the Auspicious One’s disciples have entered upon the true path, the Sangha of the Auspicious One’s disciples have entered upon the proper path; that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight types of individuals. This Sangha of the Auspicious One’s disciples are worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.” He is endowed with the virtues dear to the noble ones: “Unbroken, untorn, unmottled, unspeckled, freeing, praised by the wise, unadhered to, leading to samadhi.” These are the four dhammas that he is endowed with.

3 And O bhikkhus, [comparing] the obtaining of the four continents with the obtaining of the four dhammas, the obtaining of the four continents is not worth a sixteenth part of the obtaining of the four dhammas.

1 sāvatthiyaṃ: kiñcāpi bhikkhave, rājā cakkavatti catunnaṃ dīpānaṃ issariyādhipaccaṃ rajjaṃ kāretvā kāyassa bhedā parammaraṇā sugatiṃ saggaṃ lokaṃ uppajjati, devānaṃ tāvatiṃsānaṃ sahavyataṃ. so tattha nandanavane accharāsaṅghaparivuto dibbehi pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappito samaṅgībhūto parivāreti. so catūhi dhammehi asamannāgato. atha kho so aparimuttova nirayā, aparimutto tiracchānayoniyā, aparimutto pettivisayā, aparimutto apāyaduggativinipātā. kiñcāpi bhikkhave, ariyasāvako piṇḍiyālopena yāpeti. nantatāni dhāreti. so catūhi dhammehi samannāgato. atha kho so parimutto nirayā, parimutto tiracchānayoniyo, parimutto pettivisayā, parimutto apāyaduggativinipātā.

2 katamehi catūhi? idha bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti "itipi so bhagavā arahaṃ sammā sambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidu anuttaro purisadammasārathī satthā devamanussānaṃ buddho bhagavā"ti' dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti: "svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opanayiko paccattaṃ veditabbo viññūhī"ti. saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti: "supaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ujupaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ñāyapaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, sāmīcipaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṃ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭhapurisapuggalā, esabhagavato sāvakasaṅgho āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṃ puññakettaṃ lokassāti. " ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi acchiddehi asabalehi akammāsehi bhujissehi viññuppasatthehi aparāmaṭṭhehi samādhisaṃvattanikehi. imehi catūhi dhammehi samannāgato hoti. pts page 343

3 yo ca bhikkhave, catunnaṃ dīpānaṃ paṭilābho, yo catunnaṃ dhammānaṃ paṭilābho, catunnaṃ dīpānaṃ paṭilābho catunnaṃ dhammānaṃ paṭilābhassa kalaṃ nāgghati solasinti. bjt page 140