Evaṁ me sutaṁ. Ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Rājagahe viharati veḷuvane Kalandakanivāpe. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā Mahākassapo Pipphaliguhāyaṁ viharati ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.
Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was living in the city of Rājagaha, at the Bamboo Grove, in the Squirrels’ Feeding Ground. At that time the Venerable Mahā Kassapa who was living in the Pipphali Cave, was afflicted with a disease, was suffering physically, and was gravely ill.
Atha kho Bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yenāyasmā Mahākassapo tenupasaṅkami. Upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho Bhagavā āyasmantaṁ Mahākassapaṁ etadavoca.
Then, the Blessed One arising from his meditation in the evening, visited the Venerable Mahā Kassapa and sat down on the seat made ready for him. Thus seated, the Blessed One spoke to the Venerable Mahā Kassapa:
Kacci te Kassapa khamanīyaṁ? Kacci yāpanīyaṁ? Kacci dukkhā vedanā paṭikkamanti no abhikkamanti? Paṭikkamosānaṁ paññāyati no abhikkamo? ’ti.
Well Kassapa, how is it with you? Are you bearing up, are you enduring your bodily suffering? Do your pains decrease or increase? Are there signs of your pains decreasing and not increasing?
Na me Bhante khamanīyaṁ. Na yāpanīyaṁ. Bāḷhā me dukkhā vedanā abhikkamanti no paṭikkamanti. Abhikkamosānaṁ paññāyati no paṭikkamo’ti.
No, Bhante, I am not bearing up, I am not enduring and the pain is very great. There is a sign not of pains decreasing, but increasing.
Satti’me Kassapa bojjhaṅgā mayā sammadakkhātā bhāvitā bahulīkatā abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbāṇāya saṁvattan’ti. Katame satta?
These seven factors of enlightenment, Kassapa, are well expounded, cultivated and fully developed by me. They lead to special knowledge, to realization of the Noble Truths, and to Nibbāna. What are the seven?
Sati sambojjhaṅgo kho Kassapa, mayā sammadakkhāto bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbāṇāya saṁvattati.
Mindfulness, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded, cultivated, and fully developed by me. It leads to special knowledge, to realization of the Noble Truths, and to Nibbāna.
Dhammavicaya sambojjhaṅgo kho Kassapa, mayā sammadakkhāto bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbāṇāya saṁvattati.
Investigation of the Dhamma, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded, cultivated, and fully developed by me. It leads to special knowledge, to realization of the Noble Truths, and to Nibbāna.
Viriya sambojjhaṅgo kho Kassapa, mayā sammadakkhāto bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sabodhāya nibbāṇāya saṁvattati.
Effort, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded, cultivated, and fully developed by me. It leads to special knowledge, to realization of the Noble Truths, and to Nibbāna.
Pīti sambojjhaṅgo kho Kassapa, mayā sammadakkhāto bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbāṇāya saṁvattati.
Rapture, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded, cultivated, and fully developed by me. It leads to special knowledge, to realization of the Noble Truths, and to Nibbāna.
Passaddhi sambojjhaṅgo kho Kassapa, mayā sammadakkhāto bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbāṇāya saṁvattati.
Calm, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded, cultivated, and fully developed by me. It leads to special knowledge, to realization of the Noble Truths, and to Nibbāna.
Samādhi sambojjhaṅgo kho Kassapa, mayā sammadakkhāto bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbāṇāya saṁvattati.
Concentration, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded, cultivated, and fully developed by me. It leads to special knowledge, to realization of the Noble Truths, and to Nibbāna.
Upekkhā sambojjhaṅgo kho Kassapa, mayā sammadakkhāto bhāvito bahulīkato abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbāṇāya saṁvattati.
Equanimity, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded, cultivated, and fully developed by me. It leads to special knowledge, to realization of the Noble Truths, and to Nibbāna.
Ime kho kassapa, satta bojjhaṅgā mayā sammadakkhātā bhāvitā bahulīkatā abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbāṇāya saṁvattantī’ti.
These seven factors of enlightenment, Kassapa, are well expounded, cultivated, and fully developed by me. They lead to special knowledge, to realization of the Noble Truths, and to Nibbāna.
Taggha Bhagava, bojjhaṅgā. Taggha Sugata, bojjhaṅgā’ti.
Most surely, oh Blessed One, they are the factors of enlightenment. Most surely, oh Sublime One, they are the factors of enlightenment.
Idama’voca Bhagavā. Attamano āyasmā Mahākassapo Bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandi. Uṭṭhāhicā’yasmā Mahākassapo tamhā ābādhā. Tathā pahīnocā’yasmato Mahākassapassa so ābādho ahosī’ti.
The Blessed One taught this discourse. And the Venerable Mahā Kassapa, glad at heart, rejoiced in the Blessed One’s explanation. Thereupon the Venerable Mahā Kassapa recovered from that disease, and that disease of the Venerable Mahā Kassapa disappeared instantly.
