Sutta Nipāta 65

Anthology of Discourses 5.11

1 “For those overwhelmed by old age and death,” said Venerable Kappa,

“stuck mid-stream

as the terrifying flood arises,

tell me an island, good fellow.

Explain to me an island

so this may occur no further.”

2 “For those overwhelmed by old age and death,” replied the Buddha,

“stuck mid-stream

as the terrifying flood arises,

I shall tell you an island, Kappa.

3 Having nothing, taking nothing:

this is the island with nothing further.

I call it extinguishment,

the ending of old age and death.

4 Those who have fully understood this, mindful,

are quenched in this very life.

They don’t fall under Māra’s sway,

nor are they his footmen.”