4.
The First Discourse on the State of the Gods
1030.
At Sāvatthī.
There are, monks, these four footsteps of the gods for the purification of impure beings, for the cleansing of beings who are not pure.
What are the four? Here, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with unwavering confidence in the Buddha: 'Thus indeed is the Blessed One, etc. Teacher of gods and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.' This is the first footstep of the gods for the purification of impure beings, for the cleansing of beings who are not pure.
"Furthermore, monks, a noble disciple towards the Teaching, etc. towards the Community, etc.
"Furthermore, monks, a noble disciple is endowed with morality pleasing to the noble ones, unbroken, etc. conducive to concentration. This is the fourth footstep of the gods for the purification of impure beings, for the cleansing of beings who are not pure. These, monks, are the four footsteps of the gods for the purification of impure beings, for the cleansing of beings who are not pure." The fourth.