1.1“Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi metaṁ,“I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this,”1.2(iccāyasmā dhotako)said Venerable Dhotaka,1.3Vācābhikaṅkhāmi mahesi tuyhaṁ;“I long for your voice, great seer.1.4Tava sutvāna nigghosaṁ,After hearing your message,1.5Sikkhe nibbānamattano”.I shall train myself for extinguishment.”

2.1“Tenahātappaṁ karohi,“Well then, be keen, alert,”2.2(dhotakāti bhagavā)replied the Buddha,2.3Idheva nipako sato;“and mindful right here.2.4Ito sutvāna nigghosaṁ,After hearing this message, go on2.5Sikkhe nibbānamattano”.and train yourself for extinguishment.”

3.1“Passāmahaṁ devamanussaloke,“I see in the world of gods and humans3.2Akiñcanaṁ brāhmaṇamiriyamānaṁ;a brahmin traveling with nothing.3.3Taṁ taṁ namassāmi samantacakkhu,I bow especially to you, All-seer:3.4Pamuñca maṁ sakka kathaṅkathāhi”.release me, Sakyan, from my indecisions.”

4.1“Nāhaṁ sahissāmi pamocanāya,“I am not able to release anyone4.2Kathaṅkathiṁ dhotaka kañci loke;in the world who is indecisive, Dhotaka.4.3Dhammañca seṭṭhaṁ abhijānamāno,But when you understand the best of teachings,4.4Evaṁ tuvaṁ oghamimaṁ taresi”.you shall cross this flood.”

5.1“Anusāsa brahme karuṇāyamāno,“Teach me, brahmin, out of compassion,5.2Vivekadhammaṁ yamahaṁ vijaññaṁ;the principle of seclusion so that I may understand.5.3Yathāhaṁ ākāsova abyāpajjamāno,I wish to practice right here, peaceful, independent,5.4Idheva santo asito careyyaṁ”.unobstructed as space itself.”

6.1“Kittayissāmi te santiṁ,“I shall extol that peace for you,”6.2(dhotakāti bhagavā)replied the Buddha,6.3Diṭṭhe dhamme anītihaṁ;“that is apparent in the present, not relying on legends.6.4Yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ,Having understood it, one who lives mindfully6.5Tare loke visattikaṁ”.may cross over clinging in the world.”

7.1“Tañcāhaṁ abhinandāmi,“And I rejoice, great seer,7.2mahesi santimuttamaṁ;in that supreme peace,7.3Yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ,having understood which, one who lives mindfully7.4tare loke visattikaṁ”.may cross over clinging in the world.”

8.1“Yaṁ kiñci sampajānāsi,“Once you have understood that everything,”8.2(dhotakāti bhagavā)replied the Buddha,8.3Uddhaṁ adho tiriyañcāpi majjhe;“you are aware of in the world—8.4Etaṁ viditvā saṅgoti loke,above, below, all round, between—8.5Bhavābhavāya mākāsi taṇhan”ti.is a chain, don’t crave for life after life.”

8.6Dhotakamāṇavapucchā pañcamī.