ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā kosambiyaṃ viharati siṃsapā·vane. atha kho bhagavā parittāni siṃsapā·paṇṇāni pāṇinā gahetvā bhikkhū āmantesi:

Once the Blessed One was staying at Kosambi in the simsapa forest. Then, picking up a few simsapa leaves with his hand, he asked the monks:

– taṃ kiṃ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṃ nu kho bahu·taraṃ: yāni vā mayā parittāni siṃsapā·paṇṇāni pāṇinā gahitāni yadidaṃ upari siṃsapā·vane ti?

– What do you think, monks, which are more numerous: the few simsapa leaves in my hand or those overhead in the simsapa forest?

– appa·matta·kāni, bhante, bhagavatā parittāni siṃsapā·paṇṇāni pāṇinā gahitāni; atha kho etān·eva bahu·tarāni yadidaṃ upari siṃsapā·vane ti.

– The leaves in the hand of the Blessed One are few in number, lord. Those overhead in the simsapa forest are more numerous.

– evameva kho, bhikkhave, etad·eva bahu·taraṃ yaṃ vo mayā abhiññāya an·akkhātaṃ. kasmā c·etaṃ, bhikkhave, mayā an·akkhātaṃ? na h·etaṃ, bhikkhave, attha·saṃhitaṃ n·ādi·brahmacariya·kaṃ na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṃvattati; tasmā taṃ mayā an·akkhātaṃ.

– In the same way, monks, those things that I have known with direct knowledge but have not taught are far more numerous [than what I have taught]. And why haven't I taught them? Because they are not connected with the goal [or: they are not profitable], do not relate to the rudiments of the holy life, and do not lead to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to calm, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding. That is why I have not taught them.

kiñ·ca, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṃ? 'idaṃ dukkhan'ti, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṃ, 'ayaṃ dukkha·samudayo'ti mayā akkhātaṃ, 'ayaṃ dukkha·nirodho'ti mayā akkhātaṃ, 'ayaṃ dukkha·nirodha·gāminī paṭipadā'ti mayā akkhātaṃ.

And what have I taught? 'This is stress': This is what I have taught. 'This is the origination of stress': This is what I have taught. 'This is the cessation of stress': This is what I have taught.' This is the path of practice leading to the cessation of stress': This is what I have taught.

kasmā c·etaṃ, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṃ? etañ·hi, bhikkhave, attha·saṃhitaṃ etaṃ ādi·brahmacariya·kaṃ etaṃ nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattati; tasmā taṃ mayā akkhātaṃ.

And why have I taught these things? Because they are connected with the goal [or: they are profitable], relate to the rudiments of the holy life, and lead to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to calm, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding. This is why I have taught them.

tasmātiha, bhikkhave, 'idaṃ dukkhan'ti yogo karaṇīyo, 'ayaṃ dukkha·samudayo'ti yogo 'karaṇīyo, 'ayaṃ dukkha·nirodho'ti yogo karaṇīyo, 'ayaṃ dukkha·nirodha·gāminī paṭipadā'ti yogo karaṇīyo ti.

Therefore your duty is the contemplation: 'This is stress'; your duty is the contemplation: 'This is the origination of stress'; your duty is the contemplation: 'This is the cessation of stress'; your duty is the contemplation: 'This is the path of practice leading to the cessation of stress.'