[239] "Bhikkhus, is there a method (pariyāya), by relying upon which method a bhikkhu — apart from faith, apart from personal preference, apart from oral tradition, apart from reasoned reflection, apart from acceptance of a view after consideration — might declare final knowledge (aññā): he understands, 'Birth (jāti) 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'?"
"Venerable sir, our teachings are rooted in the Blessed One, guided by the Blessed One, have the Blessed One as their resort. It would be good indeed, venerable sir, if the meaning of this statement would become clear to the Blessed One himself; having heard it from the Blessed One, the bhikkhus will remember it."
"Well then, bhikkhus, listen and attend closely; I shall speak."
"Yes, venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"There is, bhikkhus, a method, by relying upon which method a bhikkhu — apart from faith, apart from personal preference, apart from oral tradition, apart from reasoned reflection, apart from acceptance of a view after consideration — might declare final knowledge: he understands, '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.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.