Dhātusutta

Itivuttaka 51

So It Was Said 51

Tikanipāta

The Book of the Threes

Paṭhamavagga

Chapter One

Dhātusutta

Elements

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, dhātuyo.

“Mendicants, there are these three elements.

Katamā tisso?

What three?

Rūpadhātu, arūpadhātu, nirodhadhātu—

The realm of luminous form, the formless realm, and cessation.

imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso dhātuyo”ti.

These are the three elements.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

The Buddha spoke this matter.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

On this it is said:

“Rūpadhātuṁ pariññāya,

“Comprehending the realm of luminous form,

āruppesu asaṇṭhitā;

not stuck in the formless,

Nirodhe ye vimuccanti,

those who are released in cessation,

te janā maccuhāyino.

they are conquerors of death.

Kāyena amataṁ dhātuṁ,

Having directly experienced
the element free of death,

phusayitvā nirūpadhiṁ;

free of attachments;

Upadhippaṭinissaggaṁ,

having realized relinquishment

sacchikatvā anāsavo;

of attachments, the undefiled

Deseti sammāsambuddho,

fully awakened Buddha teaches

asokaṁ virajaṁ padan”ti.

the sorrowless, stainless state.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

Dutiyaṁ.