If one holds oneself dear, let one protect oneself well. During one of the three watches of the night, the wise one should attend to oneself.

Attānañce piyaṃ jaññā — if one holds oneself dear: the premise is radical in its simplicity. If you truly love yourself — not with self-indulgence but with genuine care — then spiritual self-care is the logical consequence.

Rakkheyya naṃ surakkhitaṃ — let one protect oneself well: rakkha is to protect, guard. Surakkhita is well protected. The protection described is not physical but moral and spiritual: protecting the mind from harmful states, protecting practice from inertia.

Tiṇṇaṃ aññataraṃ yāmaṃ — during one of the three watches of the night: the night was divided into three yāma (watches). The Buddha recommended that the practitioner dedicate at least one of these three to practice — meditation, reflection, contemplation.

The teaching is practical: one is not asked to dedicate the entire night to practice, but at least a third. This moderation is typical of the middle way: neither total indulgence nor extreme asceticism.