Mahaparinibbanasuttam (DN 16) - Ancient Buddhist Texts

The Fifth Chapter for Recitation - 208
Vassāni paññāsasamādhikāni,
More than fifty years ago, 242
Yato ahaṁ pabbajito Subhadda.
Wherefore I am (truly) gone forth, Subhadda.
Ñāyassa Dhammassa padesavatti
Existing in the realm of the right Teaching 243
Ito bahiddhā samaṇo pi natthi,
Outside of this there is no (true) ascetic, 244
dutiyo pi samaṇo natthi,
a second (true) ascetic is not found,
tatiyo pi samaṇo natthi,
a third (true) ascetic is not found,
catuttho pi samaṇo natthi.
a fourth (true) ascetic is not found.
Suññā parappavādā samaṇebhi aññehi ime ca Subhadda,
Void are the outside doctrines of these other ascetics, Subhadda,
bhikkhū sammā vihareyyuṁ asuñño loko Arahantehi assā.” ti
(but) if monks should live well, the world will not be void of Worthy Ones.”
Evaṁ vutte Subhaddo paribbājako Bhagavantaṁ etad-avoca:
After this was said, the wanderer Subhadda said this to the Gracious One:
“Abhikkantaṁ Bhante! Abhikkantaṁ Bhante!
“Excellent, reverend Sir! Excellent, reverend Sir!
Seyyathā pi Bhante nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya,
Just as, reverend Sir, one might set upright what has been overturned,
paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya,
or open up what has been closed, or show a path to one who is lost,
242 This is counting from the time of his going forth from the household life, after which he
spent 6 years as an ascetic before Awakening, and forty-five years thereafter teaching.
243 Comm: padesavattī ti padese vipassanāmagge pavattanto; existing in the realm means
continuing along the path of insight.
244 Comm: padesavattivipassako pi natthi, paṭhamasamaṇo sotāpanno pi natthī ti vuttaṁ hoti; no
one practising in the realm of insight, also no first ascetic who is a stream-enterer, this is what is
said.