1.1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

1.2Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms.1.3Addasā kho āyasmā ānando sambahule licchavikumārake santhāgāre upāsanaṁ karonte, dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātente, poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitaṁ.He saw several Licchavi youths practicing archery near the town hall. They were shooting arrows from a distance through a small keyhole, shaft after shaft without missing.¹

1.4Disvānassa etadahosi:When he saw this he thought,1.5“sikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā, susikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā;“These Licchavi youths really are trained, so well trained,1.6yatra hi nāma dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātessanti poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitan”ti.in that they shoot arrows from a distance through a small keyhole, shaft after shaft without missing.”

2.1Atha kho āyasmā ānando vesāliṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then Ānanda wandered for alms in Vesālī. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.2.2“idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.2.3Addasaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, sambahule licchavikumārake santhāgāre upāsanaṁ karonte dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātente poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitaṁ.2.4Disvāna me etadahosi:2.5‘sikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā, susikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā;2.6yatra hi nāma dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātessanti poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitan’”ti.

3.1PTS 5.454“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ānanda,“What do you think, Ānanda?3.2katamaṁ nu kho dukkarataraṁ vā durabhisambhavataraṁ vā—Which is harder and more challenging:3.3yo dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipāteyya poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitaṁ, yo vā sattadhā bhinnassa vālassa koṭiyā koṭiṁ paṭivijjheyyā”ti?to shoot arrows from a distance through a small keyhole, shaft after shaft without missing? Or to take a horsehair split into seven strands and penetrate one tip with another tip?”

3.4“Etadeva, bhante, dukkaratarañceva durabhisambhavatarañca yo vā sattadhā bhinnassa vālassa koṭiyā koṭiṁ paṭivijjheyyā”ti.“It’s more difficult and challenging, sir, to take a horsehair split into seven strands and penetrate one tip with another tip.”

3.5“Atha kho, ānanda, duppaṭivijjhataraṁ paṭivijjhanti, ye ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ paṭivijjhanti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ paṭivijjhanti.“Still, Ānanda, those who truly penetrate suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path penetrate something tougher than that.

4.1Tasmātihānanda, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.That’s why you should practice meditation …”

4.2Pañcamaṁ.