1.1“Ye me pubbe viyākaṁsu,“Those who have previously answered me,”1.2(iccāyasmā hemako)said Venerable Hemaka,1.3Huraṁ gotamasāsanā;“before Gotama’s teaching,1.4Iccāsi iti bhavissati,said ‘thus it was’ or ‘so it shall be’.1.5Sabbaṁ taṁ itihītihaṁ;All that was just the testament of hearsay;1.6Sabbaṁ taṁ takkavaḍḍhanaṁ,all that just fostered speculation:1.7Nāhaṁ tattha abhiramiṁ.I found no delight in that.

2.1Tvañca me dhammamakkhāhi,But you, sage, explain to me2.2taṇhānigghātanaṁ muni;the teaching that destroys craving.2.3Yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ,Having understood it, one who lives mindfully2.4tare loke visattikaṁ”.may cross over clinging in the world.”

3.1“Idha diṭṭhasutamutaviññātesu,“The removal of desire and lust, Hemaka,3.2Piyarūpesu hemaka;for pleasant things3.3Chandarāgavinodanaṁ,seen, heard, thought, or cognized here3.4Nibbānapadamaccutaṁ.is extinguishment, the state that does not pass.

4.1Etadaññāya ye satā,Those who have fully understood this, mindful,4.2Diṭṭhadhammābhinibbutā;are quenched in this very life.4.3Upasantā ca te sadā,Always at peace,4.4Tiṇṇā loke visattikan”ti.they’ve crossed over clinging to the world.”

4.5Hemakamāṇavapucchā aṭṭhamā.