[338] When his mind (citta) is thus concentrated, purified, cleansed, unblemished, rid of defilements, become malleable, wieldy, steady, and attained to imperturbability, he directs the mind toward the knowledge (ñāṇa) of the destruction of the taints (āsava). He understands as it really is: 'This is suffering (dukkha)'; he understands as it really is: 'This is the origin of suffering'; he understands as it really is: 'This is the cessation of suffering'; he understands as it really is: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' He understands as it really is: 'These are the taints'; he understands as it really is: 'This is the origin of the taints'; he understands as it really is: 'This is the cessation of the taints'; he understands as it really is: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of the taints.' This too, brahmin, is called a footprint of the Tathāgata, a place frequented by the Tathāgata, and a mark scored by the Tathāgata. Yet even at this point the noble disciple has not come to the conclusion; rather, he is coming to the conclusion: 'The Blessed One is a Perfectly Self-Awakened One; the Dhamma is well proclaimed by the Blessed One; the Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing well.'
When he knows thus and sees thus, his mind is liberated from the taint of sensuality (kāmāsava), his mind is liberated from the taint of existence (bhavāsava), and his mind is liberated from the taint of ignorance (avijjāsava). When it is liberated, there comes the knowledge: 'It is liberated.' He understands: 'Birth (jāti) is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what was to be done has been done, there is no more of this state of being.' This too, brahmin, is called a footprint of the Tathāgata, a place frequented by the Tathāgata, and a mark scored by the Tathāgata. It is at this point, brahmin, that the noble disciple has come to the conclusion: 'The Blessed One is a Perfectly Self-Awakened One; the Dhamma is well proclaimed by the Blessed One; the Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing well.' And it is at this point, brahmin, that the simile of the elephant's footprint is complete in detail.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.