This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard. Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Mendicants, take a mendicant who is accomplished in ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom. They advise and instruct. They educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire, and can rightly explain the true teaching. Even the sight of those mendicants is very helpful, I say. “Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū sīlasampannā samādhisampannā paññāsampannā vimuttisampannā vimuttiñāṇadassanasampannā ovādakā viññāpakā sandassakā samādapakā samuttejakā sampahaṁsakā alaṁsamakkhātāro saddhammassa dassanampahaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahūpakāraṁ vadāmi; Even to hear them, savanampahaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahūpakāraṁ vadāmi; approach them, upasaṅkamanampahaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahūpakāraṁ vadāmi; pay homage to them, payirupāsanampahaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahūpakāraṁ vadāmi; recollect them, anussaraṇampahaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahūpakāraṁ vadāmi; or go forth after them is very helpful, I say. anupabbajjampahaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahūpakāraṁ vadāmi. Why is that? Taṁ kissa hetu? For one who frequents and associates with such mendicants, their incomplete spectrum of ethics is completed. Their incomplete spectrum of immersion … wisdom … freedom … knowledge and vision of freedom is completed. Tathārūpe, bhikkhave, bhikkhū sevato bhajato payirupāsato aparipūropi sīlakkhandho bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati, aparipūropi samādhikkhandho bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati, aparipūropi paññākkhandho bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati, aparipūropi vimuttikkhandho bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati, aparipūropi vimuttiñāṇadassanakkhandho bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati. Such mendicants are called ‘teachers’, ‘caravan leaders’, ‘strife-discarders’, ‘dispellers of darkness’, ‘bringers of light’, ‘luminaries’, ‘lamps’, ‘candlebearers’, ‘beacons’, ‘noble ones’, and ‘clear-eyed ones’.” Evarūpā ca te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū satthārotipi vuccanti, satthavāhātipi vuccanti, raṇañjahātipi vuccanti, tamonudātipi vuccanti, ālokakarātipi vuccanti, obhāsakarātipi vuccanti, pajjotakarātipi vuccanti, ukkādhārātipi vuccanti, pabhaṅkarātipi vuccanti, ariyātipi vuccanti, cakkhumantotipi vuccantī”ti.

The Buddha spoke this matter. Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. On this it is said: Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“This is a reason for joy “Pāmojjakaraṇaṁ ṭhānaṁ, for those who understand: etaṁ hoti vijānataṁ; that is, those who are evolved, Yadidaṁ bhāvitattānaṁ, the noble ones living righteously. ariyānaṁ dhammajīvinaṁ.

They illuminate the true teaching, Te jotayanti saddhammaṁ, beacons beaming light, bhāsayanti pabhaṅkarā; the attentive ones bringing light, Ālokakaraṇā dhīrā, clear-eyed ones with strife discarded. cakkhumanto raṇañjahā.

Having heard their instruction, Yesaṁ ve sāsanaṁ sutvā, the astute, understanding rightly, sammadaññāya paṇḍitā; directly know the ending of rebirth, Jātikkhayamabhiññāya, they come not back to future lives.” nāgacchanti punabbhavan”ti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard. Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.