[480] **The Tathāgata, directly knowing (abhijānaṃ tathāgato):** "Directly knowing" means directly knowing, distinctly knowing, penetrating. "Tathāgata": for this was said by the Blessed One: "Cunda, if something concerning the past is untrue, unreal, and not connected with benefit, the Tathāgata does not declare it. Cunda, if something concerning the past is true and real but not connected with benefit, that too the Tathāgata does not declare. Cunda, if something concerning the past is true, real, and connected with benefit, then the Tathāgata knows the right time for answering that question. Cunda, if something concerning the future … Cunda, if something concerning the present is untrue, unreal, and not connected with benefit, the Tathāgata does not declare it. If something concerning the present is true and real but not connected with benefit, that too the Tathāgata does not declare. Cunda, if something concerning the present is true, real, and connected with benefit, then the Tathāgata knows the right time for answering that question. Thus, Cunda, with regard to dhammas past, future, and present, the Tathāgata is one who speaks at the right time, who speaks what is real, who speaks what is beneficial, who speaks the Dhamma, who speaks the Discipline; therefore he is called 'Tathāgata.'
"Whatever, Cunda, in the world with its devas, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, in this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, with its devas and humans, is seen, heard, sensed, cognized, attained, sought after, and ranged over by the mind — all that has been fully awakened to by the Tathāgata; therefore he is called 'Tathāgata.'
"Cunda, in the night in which the Tathāgata awakens to the unsurpassed perfect awakening, and in the night in which he attains final Nibbāna in the Nibbāna-element without residue remaining — whatever in the interval between he speaks, utters, and points out, all that is just so and not otherwise; therefore he is called 'Tathāgata.'
"Cunda, as the Tathāgata speaks, so he does; as he does, so he speaks. Thus, as he speaks, so he does, and as he does, so he speaks; therefore he is called 'Tathāgata.'
"Cunda, in the world with its devas, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, in this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, with its devas and humans, the Tathāgata is the vanquisher, unvanquished, the all-seer, the wielder of mastery; therefore he is called 'Tathāgata.'" Hence: "the Tathāgata, directly knowing."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.