[5] Bhikkhus, these four persons are found existing in the world. What four? The person who goes with the stream; the person who goes against the stream; the person who stands firm (ṭhitatta); and the brahmin who has crossed over, gone to the far shore, and stands on dry land.
And what, bhikkhus, is the person who goes with the stream? Here, bhikkhus, some person indulges in sensual pleasures and does evil deeds. This, bhikkhus, is called the person who goes with the stream.
And what, bhikkhus, is the person who goes against the stream? Here, bhikkhus, some person does not indulge in sensual pleasures and does not do evil deeds; even with suffering (dukkha), even with grief, weeping with a tear-streaked face, he lives the complete and pure holy life (brahmacariya). This, bhikkhus, is called the person who goes against the stream.
And what, bhikkhus, is the person who stands firm? Here, bhikkhus, some person, with the utter destruction of the five lower fetters, is spontaneously reborn (opapātika), there to attain final Nibbāna, not subject to returning from that world. This, bhikkhus, is called the person who stands firm.
And what, bhikkhus, is the brahmin who has crossed over, gone to the far shore, and stands on dry land? Here, bhikkhus, some person, with the destruction of the taints (āsava), having realized it for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life enters and dwells in the taintless liberation of mind (cetovimutti) and liberation by wisdom (paññāvimutti). This, bhikkhus, is called the brahmin who has crossed over, gone to the far shore, and stands on dry land.
These, bhikkhus, are the four persons found existing in the world.
Whatever people are unrestrained regarding sensual pleasures,
not devoid of lust, enjoying sensual pleasures here—
they, overcome by craving (taṇhā),
coming again and again to birth and aging,
are the ones who go with the stream.
Therefore the wise one here, with mindfulness established,
not indulging in sensual pleasures and evil,
should abandon sensual pleasures even though it brings suffering;
that person they call the one who goes against the stream.
Whoever, having abandoned the five defilements,
is a trainee fulfilled, not subject to decline,
attained to mastery of mind, his faculties composed—
that man indeed is called the one who stands firm.
One in whom states high and low
have been comprehended, scattered, brought to an end, and exist no more—
he is a master of knowledge who has lived the holy life,
gone to the end of the world: he is called 'one gone to the far shore.'
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.