[106] When the Venerable Sāriputta was seated to one side, the Blessed One said this to him: "Is it true, Sāriputta, as they say, that final knowledge (aññā) has been declared by you thus: 'I understand: birth (jāti) is destroyed, the holy life (brahmacariya) has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more of this state of being'?"
"Venerable sir, the meaning was not stated in those words and those phrases."
"Sāriputta, in whatever way a clansman declares final knowledge, still what has been declared should be seen simply as declared."
"Venerable sir, did I not also speak thus: 'Venerable sir, the meaning was not stated in those words and those phrases'?"
"Sāriputta, if they were to ask you thus: 'But knowing in what way, friend Sāriputta, seeing in what way, has final knowledge been declared by you thus: "I understand: birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more of this state of being"?' — being asked thus, Sāriputta, how would you answer?"
"Venerable sir, if they were to ask me thus: 'But knowing in what way, friend Sāriputta, seeing in what way, has final knowledge been declared by you thus: "I understand: birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more of this state of being"?' — being asked thus, venerable sir, I would answer thus: 'Friends, with the destruction of the source (nidāna) from which birth comes, when that source is destroyed, having known "it is destroyed," I understand: birth is destroyed, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more of this state of being.' Being asked thus, venerable sir, I would answer thus."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.