Brāhmaṇavagga · The Brahmin · Gāthā 412

Yo ve silena sampanno, adantena damena ca; Uddharattānaṃ sīlena, sīlaṃ tassa na hīyati.

Yo ve silena sampanno, adantena damena ca; uddharattānaṃ sīlena, sīlaṃ tassa na hīyati.

Who is complete in virtue, through self-discipline; having elevated the self with virtue, one’s virtue does not decay.

Seventh time. The Buddhist canon is in no rush. Repetition is pedagogy: what is important deserves to be said multiple times.

Na hīyati — does not decay, does not deteriorate. True virtue is stable, it does not fluctuate with mood.