[33] Mahānāma, when a noble disciple is thus accomplished in virtue, thus guards the doors of the sense faculties, thus knows moderation in eating, is thus devoted to wakefulness, is thus endowed with the seven good qualities (saddhamma), and thus gains at will, without trouble and without difficulty, the four jhānas that pertain to the higher mind (citta) and are pleasant abidings here and now — this, Mahānāma, is called a noble disciple who is a trainee (sekha) entered upon the way, one whose eggs are unspoiled (apuccaṇḍatāya samāpanno), capable of breaking out, capable of awakening, capable of attaining the unsurpassed security from bondage (yogakkhema).
Suppose, Mahānāma, there were a hen's eggs — eight, ten, or twelve — and the hen had properly sat upon them, properly warmed them, properly incubated them. Even though no such wish might arise in that hen: "Oh, may these chicks of mine break open the eggshell with the tips of their claws or with their beaks and break out in safety!" — even so, Mahānāma, when a noble disciple is thus accomplished in virtue, thus guards the doors of the sense faculties, thus knows moderation in eating, is thus devoted to wakefulness, is thus endowed with the seven good qualities, and thus gains at will, without trouble and without difficulty, the four jhānas that pertain to the higher mind and are pleasant abidings here and now — this, Mahānāma, is called a noble disciple who is a trainee entered upon the way, one whose eggs are unspoiled, capable of breaking out, capable of awakening, capable of attaining the unsurpassed security from bondage.
That noble disciple, Mahānāma, relying upon this same unsurpassed purity of mindfulness due to equanimity, recollects his manifold past abodes (pubbenivāsa), that is: one birth, two births … Thus, with their aspects and particulars, he recollects his manifold past abodes. This is his first breaking out, like the chick's from the eggshell.
That noble disciple, Mahānāma, relying upon this same unsurpassed purity of mindfulness due to equanimity, with the divine eye (dibbacakkhu), purified and surpassing the human … he understands beings as faring on according to their actions. This is his second breaking out, like the chick's from the eggshell.
That noble disciple, Mahānāma, relying upon this same unsurpassed purity of mindfulness due to equanimity, with the destruction of the taints (āsava), realizes for himself with direct knowledge, here and now, the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it, he dwells therein. This is his third breaking out, like the chick's from the eggshell.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.