[108] "Bhikkhus, physicians give a purgative (virecana) for counteracting ailments originating from bile, for counteracting ailments originating from phlegm, and for counteracting ailments originating from wind. That purgative exists, bhikkhus; I do not say that it does not. And yet, bhikkhus, that purgative sometimes succeeds and sometimes fails. But I, bhikkhus, will teach the noble purgative — a purgative that only succeeds and never fails; a purgative in dependence upon which beings subject to birth (jāti) are freed from birth, beings subject to aging are freed from aging, beings subject to death are freed from death, and beings subject to sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are freed from sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair. Listen to it and attend well; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"And what, bhikkhus, is that noble purgative, which only succeeds and never fails — the purgative in dependence upon which beings subject to birth are freed from birth, beings subject to aging are freed from aging, beings subject to death are freed from death, and beings subject to sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are freed from sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair?
"For one of right view (sammādiṭṭhi), bhikkhus, wrong view is purged away; and the many bad, unwholesome states that come into being with wrong view as condition are also purged away for him, while with right view as condition many wholesome states go to fulfillment by development.
"For one of right thought (sammāsaṅkappa), bhikkhus, wrong thought is purged away … For one of right speech (sammāvācā), bhikkhus, wrong speech is purged away … For one of right action (sammākammanta), bhikkhus, wrong action is purged away … For one of right livelihood (sammā-ājīva), bhikkhus, wrong livelihood is purged away … For one of right effort (sammāvāyāma), bhikkhus, wrong effort is purged away … For one of right mindfulness (sammāsati), bhikkhus, wrong mindfulness is purged away … For one of right concentration (sammāsamādhi), bhikkhus, wrong concentration is purged away … For one of right knowledge (sammāñāṇa), bhikkhus, wrong knowledge is purged away … For one of right deliverance (sammāvimutti), bhikkhus, wrong deliverance is purged away; and the many bad, unwholesome states that come into being with wrong deliverance as condition are also purged away for him, while with right deliverance as condition many wholesome states go to fulfillment by development.
"This, bhikkhus, is that noble purgative, which only succeeds and never fails — the purgative in dependence upon which beings subject to birth are freed from birth, beings subject to aging are freed from aging, beings subject to death are freed from death, and beings subject to sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are freed from sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.