1 At one time the Auspicious One was dwelling in Savatthi at Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's Park. At that place, the Auspicious One addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus.” “Bhante,” those bhikkhus replied to the Auspicious One. The Auspicious One said this:

2 This samsara is without a discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on, hindered by ignorance and fettered by thirsting. Whichever, O bhikkhus, misfortunate and miserable one you may see, you must reach the conclusion: “For us too, we have undergone such form [of misfortune and misery] on this long path.” What is the reason for that? [Because] O bhikkhus, this samsara is without a discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on, hindered by ignorance and fettered by thirsting. This much, O bhikkhus, is just enough to be enstranged in all sankharas, enough to fade away in them, enough to be liberated in them.

1 ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi 'bhikkhavo'ti. 'bhadante'ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṃ. bhagavā etadavoca:

2 anamataggoyaṃ bhikkhave, saṃsāro. pubbā koṭi na paññāyati avijjānīvaraṇānaṃ sattānaṃ taṇhāsaṃyojanānaṃ sandhāvataṃ saṃsarataṃ. yaṃ bhikkhave, passeyyātha duggataṃ durupetaṃ,1 niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṃ: 'amhehipi evarūpaṃ paccanubhūtaṃ iminā dīghena addhunāti'. taṃ kissa hetu? anamataggoyaṃ bhikkhave, saṃsāro. pubbākoṭi na paññāyati avijjānīvaraṇānaṃ sattānaṃ taṇhāsaṃyojanānaṃ sandhāvataṃ saṃsarataṃ. yāvañcidaṃ bhikkhave, alameva sabbasaṅkhāresu nibbindituṃ, alaṃ virajjituṃ, alaṃ vimuccitunti.