[391] "Bhikkhus, just as those bulls, the fathers and leaders of the herd, cut across the stream of the river Gaṅgā and went safely to the far shore, even so, bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who are arahants, whose taints (āsava) are destroyed, who have lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached their own true goal, utterly destroyed the fetters (saṃyojana) of existence, and are rightly liberated through final knowledge — they too, having cut across the stream of Māra, have gone safely to the far shore.
"Bhikkhus, just as those strong cattle and cattle to be tamed cut across the stream of the river Gaṅgā and went safely to the far shore, even so, bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who, with the destruction of the five lower fetters, are of spontaneous rebirth (opapātika), due to attain final Nibbāna there, not subject to returning from that world — they too, having cut across the stream of Māra, will go safely to the far shore.
"Bhikkhus, just as the young bulls and heifers cut across the stream of the river Gaṅgā and went safely to the far shore, even so, bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who, with the destruction of three fetters and the attenuation of lust, hatred, and delusion, are once-returners (sakadāgāmī) who, having come back to this world only once, will make an end of suffering (dukkha) — they too, having cut across the stream of Māra, will go safely to the far shore.
"Bhikkhus, just as the calves, feeble in strength, cut across the stream of the river Gaṅgā and went safely to the far shore, even so, bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who, with the destruction of three fetters, are stream-enterers (sotāpanna), not subject to falling into states of woe, fixed in destiny, with full awakening as their destination — they too, having cut across the stream of Māra, went safely to the far shore.
"Bhikkhus, just as that tender calf, only just born, being borne along by its mother's lowing, cut across the stream of the river Gaṅgā and went safely to the far shore, even so, bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who are Dhamma-followers (dhammānusārī) and faith-followers (saddhānusārī) — they too, having cut across the stream of Māra, will go safely to the far shore.
"But I, bhikkhus, am skilled in this world and skilled in the other world, skilled in the domain of Māra and skilled in what is not the domain of Māra, skilled in the domain of Death and skilled in what is not the domain of Death. Bhikkhus, for those who will think me worth listening to and worth placing faith in, that will be for their welfare and happiness for a long time."
This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Sublime One, the Teacher, further said this:
"This world and the other world
have been well proclaimed by the One who knows —
both what is within the reach of Māra
and what is beyond the reach of Death.
Having directly known the whole world,
the Fully Awakened One who understands
has opened the door to the deathless,
the secure, for the attainment of Nibbāna.
The stream of the Evil One has been cut,
shattered, its reeds mown down.
Be abundant in gladness, bhikkhus,
and aspire to the secure state!"
The Cūḷagopālasutta, the fourth, is concluded.
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Cūḷasaccakasutta
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.