1Thus I heard: At one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Kosambī, in Ghosita's Monastery. Then at that time the Gracious One was living beset by monks, and nuns, and male lay followers, and female lay followers, and kings, and king's ministers, and sectarians, and sectarians’ disciples, he lived beset, unhappy, and uncomfortable.

Then it occured to the Gracious One: "At present I am living beset by monks, and nuns, and male lay followers, and female lay followers, and kings, and king's ministers, and sectarians, and sectarians’ disciples, I am living beset, unhappy, and uncomfortable. Well now, I could dwell solitary, secluded from the group."

2Then the Gracious One, having dressed in the morning time, after picking up his bowl and robe, entered Kosambī for alms. After walking for alms in Kosambī, when he had returned from the alms-round after the meal, after putting the dwelling place in order by himself, picking up his robe and bowl, without having addressed his attendants, without having taken leave of the Community of monks, solitary, without a companion, went away on a walk towards Pārileyyaka. While walking gradually on walking tour he arrived at Pārileyyaka. There the Gracious One dwelt near Pārileyyaka, in the Protected Jungle, at the root of the auspicious Sāl-tree.

3Now also a certain Nāga elephant was living beset by male elephants, by female elephants, by young elephants, by baby elephants. He ate grass that had the tips broken off, while they ate what he had broken down from the branches. He drank water that had been disturbed, and when he arose from the bathing place female elephants went along jostling his body, he lived beset, unhappy, and uncomfortable.

Then it occurred to that Nāga elephant: At present I am living beset by male elephants, by female elephants, by young elephants, by baby elephants. I eat grass that has the tips broken off, while they eat what I have broken down from the branches. I drink water that has been disturbed, and when I arise from the bathing place female elephants go along jostling my body, I am living beset, unhappy, and uncomfortable. Well now, I could dwell solitary, secluded from the group."

4Then that Nāga elephant, having gone away from the herd, went to Pārileyyaka, the Protected Jungle, the root of the auspicious Sāl-tree, and to the Gracious One. There, in that place where the Gracious One dwelt, that Nāga elephant, cleared that place of grass, and with his trunk provided the Gracious One with drinking water and washing water.

5Then when the Gracious One had gone into hiding, into seclusion, this reflection arose in his mind:

"Formerly, I was living beset by monks, and nuns, and male lay followers, and female lay followers, and kings, and king's ministers, and sectarians, and sectarians’ disciples, I was living beset, unhappy, and uncomfortable. However at present I am living unbeset by monks, and nuns, and male lay followers, and female lay followers, and kings, and king's ministers, and sectarians, and sectarians’ disciples, I am living unbeset, happily, and comfortable."

6Also to that Nāga elephant this reflection arose in his mind:

"Formerly I was living beset by male elephants, by female elephants, by young elephants, by baby elephants. I ate grass that had the tips broken off, while they ate what I had broken down from the branches. I drank water that has been disturbed, and when I arose from my bathing place female elephants proceded to jostle me with their bodies, I was living beset, unhappy, uncomfortable. However at present I am living unbeset by male elephants, by female elephants, by young elephants, by baby elephants. I eat the unbroken tips of grass, while they do not eat what I have broken down from the branches. I drink water that has not been disturbed, and when I arise from my bathing place female elephants do not proceed to jostle me with their bodies, I am living unbeset, happily, and comfortable."

7Then the Gracious One, having understood his own complete seclusion, and knowing with his mind the reflection that had arisen in that Nāga elephant's mind, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ​   ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā ākiṇṇo viharati bhikkhūhi bhikkhunīhi upāsakehi upāsikāhi rājūhi rājamahāmattehi titthiyehi titthiyasāvakehi. Ākiṇṇo dukkhaṁ na phāsu viharati.

Atha kho bhagavato etadahosi:  "Ahaṁ kho etarahi ākiṇṇo viharāmi bhikkhūhi bhikkhunīhi upāsakehi upāsikāhi rājūhi rājamahāmattehi titthiyehi titthiyasāvakehi. Ākiṇṇo dukkhaṁ na phāsu viharāmi. Yannūnāhaṁ eko gaṇasmā vūpakaṭṭho vihareyyan"ti.

2Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya kosambiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Kosambiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto sāmaṁ senāsanaṁ saṁsāmetvā pattacīvaramādāya anāmantetvā upaṭṭhākaṁ anapaloketvā bhikkhusaṅghaṁ eko adutiyo yena pālileyyakaṁ tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi. Anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena pālileyyakaṁ tadavasari. Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā pālileyyake viharati rakkhitavanasaṇḍe bhaddasālamūle.

3Aññataropi kho hatthināgo ākiṇṇo viharati hatthīhi hatthinīhi hatthikalabhehi hatthicchāpehi. Chinnaggāni ceva tiṇāni khādati, obhaggobhaggañcassa sākhābhaṅgaṁ khādanti, āvilāni ca pānīyāni pivati, ogāhā cassa uttiṇṇassa hatthiniyo kāyaṁ upanighaṁsantiyo gacchanti. Ākiṇṇo dukkhaṁ na phāsu viharati.

Atha kho tassa hatthināgassa etadahosi:  "Ahaṁ kho etarahi ākiṇṇo viharāmi hatthīhi hatthinīhi hatthikalabhehi hatthicchāpehi, chinnaggāni ceva tiṇāni khādāmi, obhaggobhaggañca me sākhābhaṅgaṁ khādanti, āvilāni ca pānīyāni pivāmi, ogāhā ca me uttiṇṇassa hatthiniyo kāyaṁ upanighaṁsantiyo gacchanti, ākiṇṇo dukkhaṁ na phāsu viharāmi. Yannūnāhaṁ eko gaṇasmā vūpakaṭṭho vihareyyan"ti.

4Atha kho so hatthināgo yūthā apakkamma yena pālileyyakaṁ rakkhitavanasaṇḍo bhaddasālamūlaṁ yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami. Tatra sudaṁ so hatthināgo yasmiṁ padese bhagavā viharati taṁ padesaṁ appaharitaṁ karoti, soṇḍāya ca bhagavato pānīyaṁ paribhojanīyaṁ upaṭṭhāpeti.

5Atha kho bhagavato rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: 

"Ahaṁ kho pubbe ākiṇṇo vihāsiṁ bhikkhūhi bhikkhunīhi upāsakehi upāsikāhi rājūhi rājamahāmattehi titthiyehi titthiyasāvakehi, ākiṇṇo dukkhaṁ na phāsu vihāsiṁ. Somhi etarahi anākiṇṇo viharāmi bhikkhūhi bhikkhunīhi upāsakehi upāsikāhi rājūhi rājamahāmattehi titthiyehi titthiyasāvakehi, anākiṇṇo sukhaṁ phāsu viharāmī"ti.

6Tassapi kho hatthināgassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: 

"Ahaṁ kho pubbe ākiṇṇo vihāsiṁ hatthīhi hatthinīhi hatthikalabhehi hatthicchāpehi, chinnaggāni ceva tiṇāni khādiṁ, obhaggobhaggañca me sākhābhaṅgaṁ khādiṁsu, āvilāni ca pānīyāni apāyiṁ, ogāhā ca me uttiṇṇassa hatthiniyo kāyaṁ upanighaṁsantiyo agamaṁsu, ākiṇṇo dukkhaṁ na phāsu vihāsiṁ. Somhi etarahi anākiṇṇo viharāmi hatthīhi hatthinīhi hatthikalabhehi hatthicchāpehi, acchinnaggāni ceva tiṇāni khādāmi, obhaggobhaggañca me sākhābhaṅgaṁ na khādanti, anāvilāni ca pānīyāni pivāmi, ogāhā ca me uttiṇṇassa hatthiniyo na kāyaṁ upanighaṁsantiyo gacchanti, anākiṇṇo sukhaṁ phāsu viharāmī"ti.

7Atha kho bhagavā attano ca pavivekaṁ viditvā tassa ca hatthināgassa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: 

Pañcamaṁ.