1"Bhikkhus, when robbers are strong, kings are weak. At that time the king is not at ease when re-entering his capital, or when going out, or when touring the outlying provinces. At that time brahmins and householders, too, are not at ease when re-entering their towns and villages, or when going out, or when attending to work outside.

"So too, when evil bhikkhus are strong, well-behaved bhikkhus are weak. At that time the well-behaved bhikkhus sit silently in the midst of the Saṅgha [n.271] Tuṇhībhūtā tuṇhībhūtā va saṅghamajjhe saṅkasāyanti. Mp: "Sitting silently in the midst of the Saṅgha, they are unable to open their mouths and utter even a single word, but just sit there as if brooding." or they resort to [n.272] Here and below reading with Ce and Ee bhajanti. the outlying provinces. This is for the harm of many people, for the unhappiness of many people, for the ruin, harm, and suffering of many people, of devas and human beings.

2"Bhikkhus, when kings are strong, robbers are weak. At that time the king is at ease when re-entering his capital, and when going out, and when touring the outlying provinces. At that time brahmins and householders, too, are at ease when reentering their towns and villages, and when going out, and when attending to work outside.

"So too, when well-behaved bhikkhus are strong, evil bhikkhus are weak. At that time the evil bhikkhus sit silently in the midst of the Saṅgha or they depart for other regions. [n.273] Reading with Be yena vā pana tena pakkamanti. Ce and Ee read papatanti, which does not fit as well. This is for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, for the good, welfare, and happiness of many people, of devas and human beings."

1"Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye corā balavanto honti, rājāno tasmiṁ samaye dubbalā honti. Tasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye rañño na phāsu hoti atiyātuṁ vā niyyātuṁ vā paccantime vā janapade anusaññātuṁ. Brāhmaṇagahapatikānampi tasmiṁ samaye na phāsu hoti atiyātuṁ vā niyyātuṁ vā bāhirāni vā kammantāni paṭivekkhituṁ.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ samaye pāpabhikkhū balavanto honti, pesalā bhikkhū tasmiṁ samaye dubbalā honti. Tasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye pesalā bhikkhū tuṇhībhūtā tuṇhībhūtāva saṅghamajjhe saṅkasāyanti paccantime vā janapade acchanti. Tayidaṁ, bhikkhave, hoti bahujanāhitāya bahujanāsukhāya, bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ.

2Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye rājāno balavanto honti, corā tasmiṁ samaye dubbalā honti. Tasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye rañño phāsu hoti atiyātuṁ vā niyyātuṁ vā paccantime vā janapade anusaññātuṁ. Brāhmaṇagahapatikānampi tasmiṁ samaye phāsu hoti atiyātuṁ vā niyyātuṁ vā bāhirāni vā kammantāni paṭivekkhituṁ.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yasmiṁ samaye pesalā bhikkhū balavanto honti, pāpabhikkhū tasmiṁ samaye dubbalā honti. Tasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye pāpabhikkhū tuṇhībhūtā tuṇhībhūtāva saṅghamajjhe saṅkasāyanti, yena vā pana tena pakkamanti. Tayidaṁ, bhikkhave, hoti bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya, bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānan"ti.