Attarakkhitasutta

sn3.5:1.1 At Sāvatthī.

sn3.5:1.2 Seated to one side, King Pasenadi said to the Buddha,

sn3.5:1.3 “Just now, sir, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind.

sn3.5:1.4 ‘Who are those who protect themselves? And who are those who don’t protect themselves?’

sn3.5:1.5 Then it occurred to me:

sn3.5:1.6 ‘Those who do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind

sn3.5:1.7 don’t protect themselves.

sn3.5:1.8 Even if they’re protected by a company of elephants, cavalry, chariots, or infantry,

sn3.5:1.9 they still don’t protect themselves.

sn3.5:1.10 Why is that?

sn3.5:1.11 Because such protection is exterior, not interior.

sn3.5:1.12 That’s why they don’t protect themselves.

sn3.5:1.13 Those who do good things by way of body, speech, and mind

sn3.5:1.14 do protect themselves.

sn3.5:1.15 Even if they’re not protected by a company of elephants, cavalry, chariots, or infantry,

sn3.5:1.16 they still protect themselves.

sn3.5:1.17 Why is that?

sn3.5:1.18 Because such protection is interior, not exterior.

sn3.5:1.19 That’s why they do protect themselves.’”