This discourse was taught by the Blessed One, taught by the Arahant, the fully enlightened Supreme Buddha. This is as I heard,
“Monks, three persons are born in the world for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world and for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans. What three?
Here, monks, a Tathāgata is born into the world, liberated, fully-enlightened, and possessing true knowledge; peaceful of conduct, well-gone, the world-knower, the unsurpassed trainer of tameable people, the teacher of gods and humans, the enlightened teacher, the Blessed one. He teaches the Dhamma, which is perfect in the beginning, perfect in the middle, and perfect in the end. He teaches the Dhamma with its correct meaning, and wording. He shows the way to completely perfect and pure spiritual conduct. This, monks, is the first person appearing in the world who is born for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, and for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.
Next, monks, there is a monk, a disciple of the Buddha, a liberated one whose taints are destroyed and in whom the spiritual life is fulfilled; one who has done what had to be done, has laid down the burden of defilements, has attained the perfect goal, has totally destroyed the fetters of existence, and is fully liberated through final knowledge. He teaches the Dhamma, which is perfect in the beginning, perfect in the middle, and perfect in the end. He teaches the Dhamma with its correct meaning and wording. He shows the way to complete perfect and pure spiritual conduct. This, monks, is the second person appearing in the world who is born for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world and for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.
Next, monks, there is a monk, a disciple of the Buddha, a trainee who is following the path, who has learned and memorized many teachings and has virtuous conduct. He teaches the Dhamma, which is perfect in the beginning, perfect in the middle, and perfect in the end. He teaches the Dhamma with its correct meaning and wording. He shows the way to completely perfect and pure spiritual conduct. This, monks, is the third person appearing in the world who is born for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, and for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.
This is the meaning of what the Blessed One said. So, with regard to this, it was said:
The Buddha, the great seer, is the first in the world; following him, the liberated disciple who has fully developed his mind; and then the trainee who, with knowledge of the Dhamma and virtuous conduct, practices the path.
These three are chief among gods and humans: Preaching the Dhamma they illuminate the whole world. They open the door to deathless-Nibbāna. They free many people from the cycle of rebirth.
The Buddha, the excellent leader, taught the Dhamma well. Those who diligently follow that path make an end to suffering in this very life.
This, too, is the meaning of what was said by the Blessed One. This is exactly as I heard.
