[478] Bhikkhus, this bhikkhu is called an 'ascetic' (samaṇa), a 'brahmin' (brāhmaṇa), one 'who has bathed' (nhātaka), a 'master of knowledge' (vedagū), a 'learned scholar' (sottiya), a 'noble one' (ariya), and also an 'arahant' (arahā).
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu an ascetic? The evil, unwholesome states — defiling, leading to renewed existence, attended by distress, ripening in suffering (dukkha), leading to future birth, aging, and death — have been stilled by him. Thus indeed, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu an ascetic.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu a brahmin? The evil, unwholesome states — defiling, leading to renewed existence, attended by distress, ripening in suffering, leading to future birth, aging, and death — have been banished by him. Thus indeed, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu a brahmin.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu one who has bathed? The evil, unwholesome states — defiling, leading to renewed existence, attended by distress, ripening in suffering, leading to future birth, aging, and death — have been washed away by him. Thus indeed, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu one who has bathed.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu a master of knowledge? The evil, unwholesome states — defiling, leading to renewed existence, attended by distress, ripening in suffering, leading to future birth, aging, and death — have been known by him. Thus indeed, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu a master of knowledge.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu a learned scholar? The evil, unwholesome states — defiling, leading to renewed existence, attended by distress, ripening in suffering, leading to future birth, aging, and death — have flowed away from him. Thus indeed, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu a learned scholar.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu a noble one? The evil, unwholesome states — defiling, leading to renewed existence, attended by distress, ripening in suffering, leading to future birth, aging, and death — are far from him. Thus indeed, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu a noble one.
And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu an arahant? The evil, unwholesome states — defiling, leading to renewed existence, attended by distress, ripening in suffering, leading to future birth, aging, and death — are far from him. Thus indeed, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu an arahant.
Thus spoke the Blessed One. Satisfied, those bhikkhus delighted in the Blessed One's words.
End of the Mahā-assapura Sutta, the Ninth.
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Cūḷa-assapura Sutta
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.