Dighanikaya 26.84

26.84

Dhammanti dasakusalakammapathadhammaṃ. Nissāyāti tadadhiṭṭhānena cetasā tameva nissayaṃ katvā. Dhammaṃ sakkarontoti yathā kato so dhammo suṭṭhu kato hoti, evametaṃ karonto. Dhammaṃ garuṃ karontoti tasmiṃ gāravuppattiyā taṃ garuṃ karonto. Dhammaṃ mānentoti tameva dhammaṃ piyañca bhāvanīyañca katvā viharanto. Dhammaṃ pūjentoti taṃ apadisitvā gandhamālādipūjanenassa pūjaṃ karonto. Dhammaṃ apacayamānoti tasseva dhammassa añjalikaraṇādīhi nīcavuttitaṃ karonto. Dhammaddhajo dhammaketūti taṃ dhammaṃ dhajamiva purakkhatvā ketumiva ca ukkhipitvā pavattiyā dhammaddhajo dhammaketu ca hutvāti attho. Dhammādhipateyyoti dhammādhipatibhūto āgatabhāvena dhammavaseneva sabbakiriyānaṃ karaṇena dhammādhipateyyo hutvā. Dhammikaṃ rakkhāvaraṇaguttiṃ saṃvidahassūti dhammo assā atthīti dhammikā, rakkhā ca āvaraṇañca gutti ca rakkhāvaraṇagutti. Tattha ‘‘paraṃ rakkhanto attānaṃ rakkhatī’’ti (saṃ. ni. 5.385) vacanato khantiādayo rakkhā. Vuttañhetaṃ ‘‘kathañca, bhikkhave, paraṃ rakkhanto attānaṃ rakkhati. Khantiyā avihiṃsāya mettacittatā anuddayatā’’ti (saṃ. ni. 5.385). Nivāsanapārupanagehādīnaṃ nivāraṇā āvaraṇaṃ, corādiupaddavanivāraṇatthaṃ gopāyanā gutti, taṃ sabbampi suṭṭhu saṃvidahassu pavattaya ṭhapehīti attho. Idāni yattha sā saṃvidahitabbā, taṃ dassento antojanasmintiādimāha.

"The Dhamma": the Dhamma of the ten wholesome courses of action. "Relying on": having made just that the support with a mind resolved upon it. "Honoring the Dhamma": acting in this way so that the Dhamma when done is well done. "Respecting the Dhamma": respecting it through the arising of reverence for it. "Esteeming the Dhamma": dwelling making that very Dhamma dear and venerable. "Worshiping the Dhamma": referring to it and offering worship to it through the worship of perfumes, garlands, and so forth. "Revering the Dhamma": showing humble conduct toward that very Dhamma by gestures such as making an añjali. "The Dhamma as your standard, the Dhamma as your banner": having the Dhamma as your standard and banner because of proceeding with that Dhamma placed at the front like a standard and raised up like a banner, is the meaning. "Taking the Dhamma as sovereign": becoming one who takes the Dhamma as sovereign because of having become one whose sovereign is the Dhamma, through doing all actions solely under the influence of the Dhamma. "Provide righteous protection, defense, and guarding": it is righteous because it has Dhamma; and protection, defense, and guarding is "protection, defense, and guarding." There, on the statement, "Protecting another, one protects oneself" (SN 5.385), patience and so forth are protection. For this was said: "And how, monks, does one protecting another protect oneself? Through patience, non-harming, a mind of loving-kindness, and sympathy" (SN 5.385). The screening of garments, cloaks, houses, and so forth is defense; guarding to ward off dangers such as thieves is guarding; arrange, maintain, and establish all that well, is the meaning. Now, showing where that should be arranged, he said "among the people within," and so forth.