The Path of Purification
(Visuddhi-magga)
Part I. Virtue (Sila)
CHAPTER I.
DESCRIPTION OF VIRTUE
(Sila-niddesa)
[1. Introductory]
I. [1] ‘When a wise man, established well in Virtue,
‘Develops Consciousness and Understanding,
‘Then as a bhikkhu ardent and sagacious
‘He succeeds in disentangling this tangle’ (S.i,13)
This was said. But why was it said? While the Blessed
One was living at Savatthi, it seems, a certain deity came to
him in the night, and in order to do away with his doubts he
asked this question: