[757] Therein, what is compassion (karuṇā)?
Here a bhikkhu, on the occasion when he develops the path for rebirth in the form sphere (rūpūpapatti): quite secluded from sensual pleasures … he enters and dwells in the first jhāna accompanied by compassion — on that occasion there is contact (phassa) … there is non-distraction (avikkhepa): these phenomena (dhammā) are wholesome (kusala). As the resultant (vipāka) of that same form-sphere (rūpāvacara) wholesome kamma, because it has been done and accumulated: quite secluded from sensual pleasures … he enters and dwells in the first jhāna accompanied by compassion — whatever on that occasion is compassion, the act of being compassionate, the state of being compassionate, deliverance of mind by compassion (karuṇā-cetovimutti): this is called compassion. The remaining phenomena are associated with compassion.
Therein, what is compassion? Here a bhikkhu, on the occasion when he develops the path for rebirth in the form sphere: with the stilling of thought and examination (vitakka-vicāra) … he enters and dwells in the second jhāna accompanied by compassion — on that occasion there is contact … there is non-distraction: these phenomena are wholesome. As the resultant of that same form-sphere wholesome kamma, because it has been done and accumulated: with the stilling of thought and examination … the second jhāna … the third jhāna … the first jhāna … he enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna accompanied by compassion — whatever on that occasion is compassion, the act of being compassionate, the state of being compassionate, deliverance of mind by compassion: this is called compassion. The remaining phenomena are associated with compassion.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.