[126] "Bhikkhus, in that case, what is the distinction, what is the disparity, what is the difference between the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, and a bhikkhu liberated by wisdom (paññāvimutta)?"
"Venerable sir, our teachings are rooted in the Blessed One, guided by the Blessed One, have the Blessed One as their recourse. It would be good indeed, venerable sir, if the meaning of this statement would occur to the Blessed One himself. Having heard it from the Blessed One, the bhikkhus will bear it in mind."
"Well then, bhikkhus, listen and attend closely; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this: "Bhikkhus, the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is the arouser of the unarisen path (magga), the producer of the unproduced path, the declarer of the undeclared path; he is the knower of the path, the discoverer of the path, the one skilled in the path. And his disciples now dwell following that path, becoming possessed of it afterwards. This, bhikkhus, is the distinction, this is the disparity, this is the difference between the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One, and a bhikkhu liberated by wisdom."
[Editorial footnote 1: In the Po., M. (Burmese), and Yu. editions the word "kho" appears at this point.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.