• So It Was Said 51 Itivuttaka 51
  • The Book of the Threes Tikanipāta
  • Chapter One Paį¹­hamavagga

Elements Dhātusutta

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

ā€œMendicants, there are these three elements. ā€œTisso imā, bhikkhave, dhātuyo. What three? Katamā tisso? The elements of form, formlessness, and cessation. RÅ«padhātu, arÅ«padhātu, nirodhadhātu—These are the three elements.ā€ imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso dhātuyoā€ti.

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

ā€œComprehending the element of form, ā€œRÅ«padhātuṁ pariƱƱāya, not stuck in the formless, āruppesu asaṇṭhitā; those who are released in cessation, Nirodhe ye vimuccanti, they are conquerors of death. te janā maccuhāyino.

Having directly experienced
the element free of death,
Kāyena amataṁ dhātuṁ,
free of attachments; phusayitvā nirÅ«padhiṁ; having realized relinquishment Upadhippaį¹­inissaggaṁ, of attachments, the undefiled sacchikatvā anāsavo; fully awakened Buddha teaches Deseti sammāsambuddho, the sorrowless, stainless state.ā€ asokaṁ virajaṁ padanā€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.