1.1Idamavoca bhagavā magadhesu viharanto pāsāṇake cetiye,This was said by the Buddha while staying in the land of the Magadhans at the Pāsāṇaka Shrine.1.2paricārakasoḷasānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ajjhiṭṭho puṭṭho puṭṭho pañhaṁ byākāsi.When requested by the sixteen brahmin devotees, he answered their questions one by one.1.3Ekamekassa cepi pañhassa atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjeyya, gaccheyyeva jarāmaraṇassa pāraṁ.If you understand the meaning and the teaching of each of these questions, and practice in line with the teaching, you may go right to the far shore of old age and death.1.4Pāraṅgamanīyā ime dhammāti, tasmā imassa dhammapariyāyassa pārāyananteva adhivacanaṁ.These teachings are said to lead to the far shore, which is why the name of this exposition of the teaching is “The Way to the Far Shore”.

2.1Ajito tissametteyyo,Ajita, Tissametteyya,2.2puṇṇako atha mettagū;Puṇṇaka and Mettagū,2.3Dhotako upasīvo ca,Dhotaka and Upasiva,2.4nando ca atha hemako.Nanda and then Hemaka,

3.1Todeyya-kappā dubhayo,both Todeyya and Kappa,3.2jatukaṇṇī ca paṇḍito;and Jatukaṇṇī the astute,3.3Bhadrāvudho udayo ca,Bhadrāvudha and Udaya,3.4posālo cāpi brāhmaṇo;and the brahmin Posāla,3.5Mogharājā ca medhāvī,Mogharāja the intelligent,3.6piṅgiyo ca mahāisi.and Piṅgiya the great seer:

4.1Ete buddhaṁ upāgacchuṁ,they approached the Buddha,4.2sampannacaraṇaṁ isiṁ;the seer of consummate conduct.4.3Pucchantā nipuṇe pañhe,Asking their subtle questions,4.4buddhaseṭṭhaṁ upāgamuṁ.they came to the most excellent Buddha.

5.1Tesaṁ buddho pabyākāsi,The Buddha answered their questions5.2pañhe puṭṭho yathātathaṁ;in accordance with truth.5.3Pañhānaṁ veyyākaraṇena,The sage satisfied the brahmins5.4tosesi brāhmaṇe muni.with his answers to their questions.

6.1Te tositā cakkhumatā,Those who were satisfied by the Clear-eyed One,6.2buddhenādiccabandhunā;the Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun,6.3Brahmacariyamacariṁsu,led the spiritual life in his presence,6.4varapaññassa santike.the one of such outstanding wisdom.

7.1Ekamekassa pañhassa,If you practice in accordance7.2yathā buddhena desitaṁ;with each of these questions7.3Tathā yo paṭipajjeyya,as taught by the Buddha,7.4gacche pāraṁ apārato.you’ll go from the near shore to the far.

8.1Apārā pāraṁ gaccheyya,Developing the supreme path,8.2bhāvento maggamuttamaṁ;you’ll go from the near shore to the far.8.3Maggo so pāraṁ gamanāya,This path is for going to the far shore;8.4tasmā pārāyanaṁ iti.that’s why it’s called “The Way to the Far Shore”.