1209. Oha! Nun so ich vom Heim in den hauslosen Zustand geschieden bin, diese rücksichtslosen Gedanken des Dunklen Einen [1], kamen in mir auf.

1210. Erhabene Krieger, große Bogenschützen, trainiert, standhafte Schützen, eintausend fürchtlose Männer, mögen mich umringen von allen Seiten.

1211. Selbst wenn mehr Frauen als diese kommen werden,[2] sie werden es nicht vermögen mich zum wanken zu bringen, den ich bin fest eingerichtet in den Lehren.

1212. In seiner Anwesenheit, hörte ich vom Erwachten, Stammesmann der Sonne, von diesem Pfad der zu Nibbana führt; es ist dort an das mein Herz anhaftend ist.

1213. Böser Einer, während ich so lebe, wenn Ihr mich bestürmt, so möge ich handeln, Oh Tod, das Ihr nicht seht meinen Pfad.

1214. Gänzlich Nichtmögen und Mögen aufgebendm und das Denken in Verbindung mit dem Leben eines Haushütters, sollte man kein Verlangen für was auch immer haben. Er ist wahrlich ein Bhikkhu, jener völling ohne Verlangen.

1215. Was immer da an Form ist, Erde und den Himmel bewohnend, verschlungen in der Welt,[3] alles ist unbeständig und vergehend. So verstehend, der Weise sein Leben lebt.[4]

1216. Im Bezug auf Gegenstände des Anhaftens, Leute sind gierig nach dem was zu sehen und zu hören und berührt und anders zu erfahren.[5] Unbewegt seinend, verbannt Begehren nach diesen, den sie nennen ihn einen Helden, der nicht an diesen sich klammert.

1217. Wenn, gefangen in den Sechzig,[6] voll von (spekulativen) Gedanken, weil sie Außenseiter sind,[7] eingerichtet in falschen Lehre sie sind. Doch einer der ein Mönch, einen sektierenden Ansichtspunkt einnehmen würde, noch weniger, anpacken, das was schlecht ist.

1218. Intelligent, über lange Zeit gelassen (im Geist), nicht hinterlistig, weise, nicht neidisch, der Held hat erfahren den friedvollen Zustand, bedingt auf welchem, Abgekühltheit erreicht, er seine Zeit abwartet.[8]

1219. Dünkel abgelegt, Gotama,[9] ist den Weg des Dünkels völlig los. Weil Ihr betört in den Wegen des Dünkels gewesen, für lange Zeit ihr reumütig seid.

1220. Gegründed in Verachtung (für andere), vom Stolz zerstört, fahren Leute in die Hölle ein. Leute zerstört vom Dünkel, grämen sich lange, bis in der Hölle wiedergeboren sind.

1221. Ein Mönch nie bekümmert, der ein Kenner des Pfades,[10] einer der in passend hat ausgeübt. Er erfährt Ansehen und Heiterkeit, Wahrheit entsprechend, einen "Seher des Dhammas" nennen ihn.

1222. Deshalb seid ohne Unfruchtbarheit[11] hier ( in dieser Welt), tatkräftig, gereinigt durch Ablegen der Hindernisse, seid ein Beender (von Leid) durch Wissen und werdet zu einem der in Friede verweilt.

[Vangisa:]

1223. "Ich brenn vor Sinnesbegehren, mein Geist ist entzunden (von Gegehrlichkeit). Aus Mitleid sagt mir bitte, Gotama,[13] das wirksamste Erlöschen dessen."

[Ananda:]

1224. "Euer Geist ist entzunden, aus verdrehter Vorstellungens Grund. Die schönen Anblicke verdrängend, verbunden mit Begehrlichkeit. (A)

1224B. "Seht Konstrukte[14] wie anderes, als schmerzvoll, nicht als Selbst, (und so) erlöscht starke Begierde, entfacht nicht wieder und wieder. (B)[15]

1225. "Widmet den Geist, eins-gerichtet und gut-zusammengestetzt, der Besinnung von Schmutz.[16] Laßt Achtsamkeit dem Körper zugerichtet sein und völlig ernüchtert von ihm werden.

1226. "Besinnt das Anzeichenlose[17] und werft die unterliegende Neigung von Dünkel hinaus. Dann mit dem Durchdringen von Stolz, werdet ich auf Friede zugehen."

1227. Man sollte nur Worte sprechen, mit denen man sich weder selbst peinigt noch andere quält. Dieses Wort ist tatsächlich gut gesprochen.

1228. Man sollte nur angenehme Worte sprechen, Worte, die (für andere) annehmbar sind.

1229. Wahrheit in Tat, das unsterbliche Wort, dies eine althergebrachte Wahrheit ist. Auf Wahrheit, sagen die Guten, das Ziel und die Lehren gegründet sind. [19]

1230. Das sichere Wort des Erwachten, spricht vom Erlangen von Nibbana, um dem Leiden ein Ende zu tun, ist wahrlich das beste Wort.

1231. Of profound wisdom, intelligent, skilled in knowledge of the right and wrong path, Sariputta of great wisdom teaches Dhamma to the monks.

1232. He teaches in brief, he speaks with detailed explanation, his voice is (pleasing) like that of the mynah bird; he demonstrates readiness of speech.[20]

1233. Listening to his sweet utterance[21] while he is teaching with a voice that is captivating, pleasing, and lovely, the monks give ear, with minds elated and joyful.

1234. Today on the fifteenth (of the fortnight)[23] five hundred monks have gathered for the ceremony of purification, cutters of fetters and bonds, untroubled, seers finished with renewed existence.

1235-36. As a wheel-turning monarch, surrounded by his ministers, tours all around this ocean-girt earth, so do the disciples with the threefold knowledge, who have left death behind, attend upon the victor in battle, the unsurpassed caravan leader.

1237. All are the Fortunate One's sons; there is no chaff found here. I pay homage to the destroyer of the dart of craving, the Kinsman of the Sun.

1238. More than a thousand monks attend upon the Happy One as he is teaching the stainless Dhamma concerning nibbana, where no fear can come from any quarter.

1239. They hear the taintless Dhamma taught by the Fully Awakened One. The Awakened One is truly resplendent as he is revered by the community of monks.

1240. You are called a naga,[24] Fortunate One; of seers, you are the best of seers.[25] Like a great rain-cloud, you rain down upon the disciples.

1241. Leaving his daytime abode, wishing to see the Teacher, your disciple Vangisa pays homage at your feet, Great Hero.

1242. Overcoming the devious ways and range of Mara, he walks (free), having broken up the things that make for barrenness of mind.[27] See him producing release from bonds, unattached, separating (the Teaching) into its constituent parts.[28]

1243. He has shown the path in a variety of ways with the aim of guiding us across the flood. Since the undying has been shown (to them), the Dhamma-seers (are those who) stand immovable.

1244. The light-maker, having penetrated (the Dhamma), saw the overcoming of all standpoints.[29] Having understood and experienced it, he taught the topmost (Dhamma-teaching) to the five.[30]

1245. When the Dhamma has been thus well taught, what indolence could there be in those who know the Dhamma? Therefore, vigilant and ever revering, one should follow the training in the Fortunate One's dispensation.

1246. The Elder Kondañña, strong in energy, who was enlightened after the Awakened One,[31] is repeatedly the obtainer of pleasurable abidings and seclusions.[32]

1247. Whatever is to be attained by a disciple who does the instruction of the Teacher, all that has been attained by him, vigilant and disciplined.

1248. Having great power and the threefold knowledge, skilled in knowing the thoughts of others, Kondañña, the Awakened One's heir, pays homage at the Teacher's feet.

1249. Disciples, possessors of the threefold knowledge who have left death behind, attend upon the sage seated on the mountain side, who has gone to the far shore beyond suffering.

1250. Moggallana, of great supernormal powers, encompasses (their minds) with his mind, seeking their minds, completely freed, without attachments.[33]

1251. Thus do they attend upon Gotama endowed with so many virtuous qualities, the sage possessed of all the attributes and gone to the far shore beyond suffering.

1252. As the moon shines in the sky free from clouds, as also the spotless sun, even so, Resplendent One, Great Sage, do you outshine the whole world with your fame.

1253. Intoxicated with skill in the poetic art, formerly we wandered from village to village, from town to town. Then we saw the Awakened One gone to the far shore beyond all (worldly conditioned) phenomena.

1254. The sage gone to the far shore beyond suffering taught me the Dhamma. On hearing the Dhamma we gained confidence in him; faith arose in us.

1255. Having heard his word and learnt of the aggregates, bases, and elements, I went forth into homelessness.

1256. Indeed Tathagatas appear for the good of the many men and women who practice their teaching.

1257. Indeed the sage attained enlightenment for the good of those monks and nuns who see the course to be undergone.[34]

1258. Well taught are the Four Noble Truths by the Seeing One, the Awakened One, the Kinsman of the Sun, out of compassion for living beings.

1259. Suffering, the origin of suffering, the overcoming of suffering, and the noble eightfold path leading to the allaying of suffering.

1260. Thus these things, thus spoken of, have been seen by me as they really are. The true goal has been reached by me; the Awakened One's instruction has been done.

1261. It was good indeed for me, my coming into the presence of the Awakened One. Among things shared out I obtained the best.

1262. I have attained the perfection of the direct knowledges, I have purified the element of hearing, I have the threefold knowledge and obtained supernormal powers and am skilled in knowing the minds of others.

1263. "I ask the teacher of superior wisdom, one who in this very life is the cutter-off of doubts: The monk, well known and famous, who has died at Agga.lava, was he completely quenched in mind?

1264. "Nigrodhakappa was the name given to that brahmin by you, Fortunate One. Looking for release, strenuously energetic, he went about revering you, O seer of the secure state (i.e., nibbana).

1265. "Sakka, All-seeing One, we all wish to know concerning that disciple. Our ears are ready to hear. You are the teacher, you are unsurpassed.

1266. "Sever our doubt. Tell me this, you of extensive wisdom, that he experienced quenching. Speak in our very midst, All-seeing One, like the thousand-eyed Sakka in the midst of the gods.

1267. "Whatever bonds exist here (in the world), ways of delusion, on the side of ignorance, bases for doubt, they no longer exist on reaching the Tathagata, for that vision of his is supreme among men.

1268. "If no man were ever to disperse the defilements as the wind disperses a mass of clouds, the whole world, enveloped, would surely be darkness, and even illustrious men would not shine forth.

1269. "But the wise are light-makers. O Wise One, I think you are just such a one. We have come upon him who knows and is gifted with insight. Make evident to us, within the companies (of disciples), the fate of Kappa.

1270. "Quickly enunciate your beautiful utterance, O beautiful one! Like a goose stretching forth (its neck), honk gently with your melodious and well-modulated voice; we are all listening to you attentively.

1271. "Pressing the one who has completely abandoned birth and death, I shall urge the purified one to speak Dhamma. For among outsiders there is no acting as they wish, but among Tathagatas there is acting with discretion.[35]

1272. "This full explanation of yours, (coming from) one with upright wisdom, is well learnt. This last salutation is proferred. You of superior wisdom, knowing (Kappa's fate), do not keep us in ignorance.

1273. "Having known the noble Dhamma in its full extent, you of superior energy, knowing (Kappa's fate), do not keep us in ignorance. I long for your word as one overcome by heat in the hot season longs for water. Rain down on our ears.[36]

1274. "Surely the purpose for which Kappayana practiced the holy life was not in vain. Was he quenched or had he a residue remaining?[37] Let us hear in what way he was released."

1275. "He cut off craving here for mind-and-materiality", said the Fortunate One, "the stream of craving which for a long time had lain latent within him. He has crossed beyond birth and death completely." So spoke the Fortunate One, the foremost of the five.[38]

1276. "On hearing your word, O best of seers, I believe. My question was truly not in vain; the brahmin did not deceive me.

1277. "As he spoke, so he acted. He was a disciple of the Awakened One. He cut through the strong, spread-out net of Death the deceiver.

1278. "Kappiya saw the starting point of grasping, O Fortunate One. Kappayana has certainly gone beyond the realm of Death, so difficult to cross.

1279. "I pay homage to you, the god of gods,[39] and to your son, O best of bipeds, to the great hero born in your tracks, a naga, a true son of the naga."[40]