This was said by the Buddha while staying in the land of the Magadhans at the Pāsāṇaka Shrine. Idamavoca bhagavā magadhesu viharanto pāsāṇake cetiye, When requested by the sixteen brahmin devotees, he answered their questions one by one. paricārakasoḷasānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ajjhiṭṭho puṭṭho puṭṭho pañhaṁ byākāsi. If you understand the meaning and the teaching of each of these questions, and practice in line with the teaching, you may go right to the far shore of old age and death. Ekamekassa cepi pañhassa atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjeyya, gaccheyyeva jarāmaraṇassa pāraṁ. These teachings are said to lead to the far shore, which is why the name of this exposition of the teaching is “The Way to the Far Shore”. Pāraṅgamanīyā ime dhammāti, tasmā imassa dhammapariyāyassa pārāyananteva adhivacanaṁ.

Ajita, Tissametteyya, Ajito tissametteyyo, Puṇṇaka and Mettagū, puṇṇako atha mettagū; Dhotaka and Upasiva, Dhotako upasīvo ca, Nanda and then Hemaka, nando ca atha hemako.

both Todeyya and Kappa, Todeyya-kappā dubhayo, and Jatukaṇṇī the astute, jatukaṇṇī ca paṇḍito; Bhadrāvudha and Udaya, Bhadrāvudho udayo ca, and the brahmin Posāla, posālo cāpi brāhmaṇo; Mogharāja the intelligent, Mogharājā ca medhāvī, and Piṅgiya the great seer: piṅgiyo ca mahāisi.

they approached the Buddha, Ete buddhaṁ upāgacchuṁ, the seer of consummate conduct. sampannacaraṇaṁ isiṁ; Asking their subtle questions, Pucchantā nipuṇe pañhe, they came to the most excellent Buddha. buddhaseṭṭhaṁ upāgamuṁ.

The Buddha answered their questions Tesaṁ buddho pabyākāsi, in accordance with truth. pañhe puṭṭho yathātathaṁ; The sage satisfied the brahmins Pañhānaṁ veyyākaraṇena, with his answers to their questions. tosesi brāhmaṇe muni.

Those who were satisfied by the Clear-eyed One, Te tositā cakkhumatā, the Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun, buddhenādiccabandhunā; led the spiritual life in his presence, Brahmacariyamacariṁsu, the one of such outstanding wisdom. varapaññassa santike.

If you practice in accordance Ekamekassa pañhassa, with each of these questions yathā buddhena desitaṁ; as taught by the Buddha, Tathā yo paṭipajjeyya, you’ll go from the near shore to the far. gacche pāraṁ apārato.

Developing the supreme path, Apārā pāraṁ gaccheyya, you’ll go from the near shore to the far. bhāvento maggamuttamaṁ; This path is for going to the far shore; Maggo so pāraṁ gamanāya, that’s why it’s called “The Way to the Far Shore”. tasmā pārāyanaṁ iti.