1 At one time the Auspicious One dwelled at Vesali, in the Great Wood, at the Hall with the Peaked Roof. It so happened that in the morning, the venerable Ananda, having dressed, having taken bowl and robe, entered Vesali for alms food. The venerable Ananda saw many Licchavi boys in the training hall practicing archery, shooting arrows from afar through a very tiny hole, [the distance of] a palm tree, shot after shot without missing. Having seen this, it occurred to him: “Indeed these Licchavi boys are well-trained. Indeed these Licchavi boys are well-trained, in as much as they shoot arrows from afar through a very tiny hole, [at the distance of] a palm tree, shot after shot without missing.”

2 Then the venerable Ananda, having wandered in Vesali for alms food, after his meal, having gone back after alms gathering, visited with the Auspicious One. Upon arrival, he bowed down to the Auspicious One and sat down to one side. Having sat down to one side, the venerable Ananda said this to the Auspicious One: "Here I, O Bhante, in the morning, having taken bowl and robe, entered Vesali for alms food. I, O Bhante, saw many Licchavi boys in the training hall practicing archery, shooting arrows from afar through a very tiny hole, [the distance of] a palm tree, shot after shot without missing. Having seen this, it occurred to me: “Indeed these Licchavi boys are well-trained. Indeed these Licchavi boys are well-trained, in as much as they shoot arrows from afar through a very tiny hole [at the distance of] a palm tree, shot after shot without missing.”

3 “So what do you think? O Ananda, which is more difficult or harder to achieve, shooting arrows from afar through a very tiny hole [at the distance of] a palm tree, shot after shot without missing, or that one might pierce the tip of a hair split into a hundred strands [with an arrow] tip?” Just this, O Bhante, is clearly more difficult and harder to achieve: that one might pierce the tip of a hair split into a hundred strands [with an arrow] tip.” Now, O Ananda, they pierce what is harder to pierce, those who pierce as it has come to be: “This is suffering”; who pierce as it has come to be: “This is the origination of suffering”; who pierce as it has come to be: “This is the cessation of suffering”; who pierce as it has come to be: “This is the path leading to the cessation of suffering.”

4 Therefore, O Ananda, an endeavour should be made [to realize]: “This is suffering.” An endeavour should be made [to realize]: “This is the origination of suffering.” An endeavour should be made [to realize]: “This is the cessation of suffering.” An endeavour should be made [to realize]: “This is the path leading to the cessation of suffering.”

1 ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā vesāliyaṃ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṃ. atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṃ piṇḍāya pāvisi. addasā kho āyasmā ānando sambahule licchavikumārake santhāgāre upāsanaṃ karonte dūratova sukhumena tālacchiggalena asanaṃ atipātente poṅkhānupoṅkhaṃ avirādhitaṃ, disvānassa etadahosi: "sikkhitāvatime licchavikumārakā susikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā. yatra hi nāma dūratova sukhumena tālacchiggalena asanaṃ atipātessanti poṅkhānupoṅkhaṃ avirādhitanti. " bjt page 316

2 atha kho āyasmā ānando vesāliyaṃ piṇḍaya caritvā pacchābhantaṃ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṃkami. upasaṃkamitvā bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. ekamantaṃ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṃ etadavoca: "idhāhaṃ bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṃ piṇḍāya pāvisiṃ. addasaṃ khvāhaṃ bhante, sambahule licchavikumārake santhāgāre upāsanaṃ karonte. dūratova sukhumena tālacchiggalena asanaṃ atipātente poṅkhānupoṅkhaṃ avirādhitaṃ. disvāna me etadahosi, sukkhitā vatime licchavi kumārakā. susikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā. yatra hi nāma dūrato va sukhumena tālacchiggalena asanaṃ atipātessanti poṅkhānupoṅkhaṃ avirādhitanti". pts page 454

3 taṃ kiṃ maññasi ānanda, katamaṃ nukho dukkarataraṃ vā durabhisambhavataraṃ vā, yo ca dūratova sukhumena tālacchiggalena asanaṃ atipāteyya poṅkhānupoṅkhaṃ avirādhitaṃ. yo vā satadhā bhinnassa vāḷassa koṭiyā koṭiṃ paṭivijjhayyāti? etadeva bhante, dukkarataraṃ ceva durabhisambhavataraṃ ca yo vā satadhā bhinnassa vāḷassa koṭiyā koṭiṃ paṭivijjhayyāti. atha kho te ānanda duppaṭivijjhataraṃ paṭivijjhanti \footnote{yo-syā, sī 1, 2.} "idaṃ dukkha"nti yathābhūtaṃ paṭivijjhanti\footnote{paṭivijjhati-syā, sī 1, 2.} "ayaṃ dukkhasamudayoti" yathābhūtaṃ paṭivijjhati "ayaṃ dukkhanirodhoti" yathābhūtaṃ paṭivijjhanti "ayaṃ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā"ti, yathābhūtaṃ paṭivijjhati.

4 tasmātiha ānanda, "idaṃ dukkha"nti yogo karaṇīyo "ayaṃ dukkhasamudayoti"yogo karaṇīyo "ayaṃ dukkhanirodhoti" yogo karaṇīyo "ayaṃ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā"ti yogo karaṇīyoti.