Thus have I heard,

Once, the Awakened One lived at Sāvatthi

in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

On that occasion, the Buddha was instructing,

encouraging, inspiring and gladdening the monks

with a discourse on nibbāna.

The monks gave their full attention to what was being spoken

gathering their whole minds

and giving ear to listen to the Dhamma.

Realizing the significance of the moment

the Awakened One exclaimed these heartfelt verses:

“There exists, monks,

an unborn,

being-less

unmade

and unfabricated state. [1]

If no such unborn,

being-less,

unmade,

and unfabricated state would exist,

no release could ever be experienced

from what is born,

what exists,

what is made up

and what is fabricated.[2]

But because there is

an unborn,

being-less,

unmade,

and unfabricated state,

a release can be discerned

from what is born,

what exists,

what is made up

and what is fabricated.”

[1] Atthi, bhikkhave, ajātaṁ abhūtaṁ akataṁ asaṅkhataṁ.

[2] nayidha jātassa bhūtassa katassa saṅkhatassa nissaraṇaṁ paññāyetha.