All men who are ignorant of the Truth are subject to pain; in the world they suffer in many ways. (1)

Therefore a wise man, who considers well the ways that lead to bondage, should himself search for the truth, and be kind towards all creatures. (2)

"Mother, father, daughter-in-law, brother, wife, and sons will not be able to help me, when I suffer for my own deeds." (3)

This truth should be taken to heart by a man of pure faith; he should therefore cut off greed and love, and not hanker after his former connections. (4)

Cows and horses, jewels and earrings, cattle, slaves and servants: all these possessions you must give up in order to attain the higher state. (5)

Everything that happens to somebody, affects him personally; therefore, knowing the creatures' love of their own self, do not deprive them of their life, but cease from endangering and combating them. (6)

Seeing that to accept presents leads to hell, one should not accept even a blade of grass; only to preserve one's life one should eat the food that is put in one's own alms-bowl. (7)

Here some are of opinion that they will be delivered from all misery by merely attending the teacher, without abstaining from sins. (8)

Acknowledging the truth about bondage and liberation, but talking only, not acting in accordance with these tenets, they seek comfort for themselves in mighty words. (9)

Clever talking will not work salvation; how should philosophical instruction do it? Fools, though sinking lower and lower through their sins, believe themselves to be wise men. (10)

They are going a long way in error; therefore looking out carefully one should wander about carefully. (11)

Choosing what is beyond and above this world, namely salvation, one should never desire worldly objects, but sustain one's body only to be able to wipe out one's sins. (12)

Those will reap pains who, in thoughts, words, or acts, are attached to their body, to colours, and to forms. (13)

Recognising the cause of sin, one should wander about waiting for one's death; knowing the permitted quantity of food and drink, one should eat such food as has been prepared by the householders for their own consumption. (14)

An ascetic should not lay by any store, not even so little as the grease sticking to his alms-bowl; but as a bird with its plumage, so he with his alms-bowl should wander about without desires. (15)

Receiving alms in a manner to avoid faults, and controlling one's self, one should wander about in a village and the like without a fixed residence; careful among the careless one should beg one's food. (16)

Thus has spoken the venerable Jnatriputra, native of Vaisali, the messenger who possessed the highest knowledge and the highest faith, who possessed at the same time the highest knowledge and the highest faith. (17)

Thus I say.