2. The Four Noble Truths

Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, ariyasaccāni.
There are, monastics, these four noble truths.

1. Dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ,
1. The noble truth of suffering,

2. dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ,
2. the noble truth of the arising of suffering,

3. dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ,
3. the noble truth of the cessation of suffering,

4. dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ.
4. the noble truth of the practice leading to the cessation of suffering.

1. Katamañ-cāvuso dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ?
1. Now what, venerable friends, is the noble truth of suffering?

Jāti pi dukkhā,
Birth is suffering,

jarā pi dukkhā,
also old age is suffering,

vyādhi pi dukkho,
also sickness is suffering,

maraṇam-pi dukkhaṁ,
also death is suffering,

sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā pi dukkhā,
also grief, lamentation, pain, sorrow, and despair, is suffering,

yam-picchaṁ na labhati tam-pi dukkhaṁ,
also not to obtain what one longs for is suffering,

saṅkhittena pañcupādānakkhandhā dukkhā.
in brief, the five components (of mind and bodily-form) that provide fuel for attachment are suffering.

2. Katamañ-cāvuso, dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ?
2. Now what, venerable friends, is the noble truth of the arising of suffering?

Yā yaṁ taṇhā ponobhavikā,
It is that craving which leads to continuation in existence,

nandirāgasahagatā, tatratatrābhinandinī, seyyathīdaṁ:
which is connected with enjoyment and passion, greatly enjoying this and that, as follows:

Kāmataṇhā,
Craving for sense pleasures,

bhavataṇhā,
craving for continuation,

vibhavataṇhā.
craving for discontinuation.

Idaṁ vuccatāvuso dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ.
This, venerable friends, is called the noble truth of the arising of suffering.

3. Katamañ-cāvuso dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ?
3. Now what, venerable friends, is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering?

Yo tassā yeva taṇhāya asesavirāganirodho –
It is the complete fading away and cessation without remainder of that craving –

cāgo, paṭinissaggo, mutti, anālayo.
liberation, letting go, release, and non-adherence.

Idaṁ vuccatāvuso dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ.
This, venerable friends, is called the noble truth of the cessation of suffering.

4. Katamañ-cāvuso dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ?
4. Now what, venerable friends, is the noble truth of the practice leading to the cessation of suffering?

Ayam-eva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathīdaṁ:
It is this noble path with eight factors, as follows:

{1} Sammādiṭṭhi,
{1} Right view,

{2} sammāsaṅkappo,
{2} right thought,

{3} sammāvācā,
{3} right speech,

{4} sammākammanto,
{4} right action,

{5} sammā-ājīvo,
{5} right livelihood,

{6} sammāvāyāmo,
{6} right endeavour,

{7} sammāsati,
{7} right mindfulness,

{8} sammāsamādhi.
{8} right concentration. For an analysis of the individual factors, see 21 below.