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SN 14.32 
Saṁyutta Nikāya 
The Connected Discourses 
 
Nidānavagga Saṁyutta  
The Groups on Causation 
 
Dhātu Saṁyutta 
Connected Discourses on The Elements 
 
Catuttha Vagga 
The Fourth Section 
 
Acariṁ Sutta 
“Quest for Gratification” 
 
Translated by Bhikkhu Candana 
 
Copyright © Bhikkhu Candana 2025 
 
Once, while The Blessed One was dwelling in Sāvatthī, He addressed the Bhikkhus and 
said: 
 
“Bhikkhus!” 
 
“Yes, Bhante!” replied the Bhikkhus. 
 
The Blessed One then continued by saying: 
 
1. “Bhikkhus, I went in search of gratification within the earth element. And whatever 
gratification there is to be found within the earth element, that I have found out. Thus, whatever 
happens to be the spectrum of gratification of the earth element, that I have fully understood and 
wisely discerned. 
 
“Bhikkhus, I went in search of the perilous danger within the earth element. And whatever 
perilous danger there is to be encountered within the earth element, that I have found out, as 
well. Thus, whatever happens to be the spectrum of danger of the earth element, that I have fully 
understood and wisely discerned.

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“Bhikkhus, I went in search of the way to entirely escape by stepping out from the earth element. 
And whatever way of escape by stepping out that there is from the earth element, that I have 
found out. Thus, whatever happens to be the spectrum of the stepping out and escape from the 
earth element, that I have fully understood and wisely discerned. 
 
2. “Bhikkhus, I went in search of gratification within the water element. And whatever 
gratification there is to be found within the water element, that I have found out. Thus, whatever 
happens to be the spectrum of gratification of the water element, that I have fully understood and 
wisely discerned. 
 
“Bhikkhus, I went in search of the perilous danger within the water element. And whatever 
perilous danger there is to be encountered within the water element, that I have found out, as 
well. Thus, whatever happens to be the spectrum of danger of the water element, that I have fully 
understood and wisely discerned. 
 
“Bhikkhus, I went in search of the way to entirely escape by stepping out from the water 
element. And whatever way of escape there is by stepping out from the water element, that I 
have found out. Thus, whatever happens to be the spectrum of the stepping out and escape from 
the water element, that I have fully understood and wisely discerned. 
 
3. “Bhikkhus, I went in search of gratification within the fire element. And whatever gratification 
there is to be found within the fire element, that I have found out. Thus, whatever happens to be 
the spectrum of gratification of the fire element, that I have fully understood and wisely 
discerned. 
 
“Bhikkhus, I went in search of the perilous danger within the fire element. And whatever 
perilous danger there is to be encountered within the fire element, that I have found out, as well. 
Thus, whatever happens to be the spectrum of danger of the fire element, that I have fully 
understood and wisely discerned. 
 
“Bhikkhus, I went in search of the way to entirely escape by stepping out from the fire element. 
And whatever way of escape there is by stepping out of the fire element, that I have found out. 
Thus, whatever happens to be the spectrum of the stepping out and escape from the fire element, 
that I have fully understood and wisely discerned. 
 
4. “Bhikkhus, I went in search of gratification within the air element. And whatever gratification 
there is to be found within the air element, that I have found out. Thus, whatever happens to be 
the spectrum of gratification of the air element, that I have fully understood and wisely 
discerned. 
 
“Bhikkhus, I went in search of the perilous danger within the air element. And whatever perilous 
danger there is to be encountered within the air element, that I have found out, as well. Thus, 
whatever happens to be the spectrum of danger of the air element, that I have fully understood 
and wisely discerned.

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“Bhikkhus, I went in search of the way to entirely escape by stepping out from the air element. 
And whatever way of escape there is by stepping out from the air element, that I have found out. 
Thus, whatever happens to be the spectrum of the stepping out and escape from the air element, 
that I have fully understood and wisely discerned. 
 
“Now, Bhikkhus, so long as I had not yet fully understood, nor wisely discerned, the full range 
and spectrum of seeking that gratification, the perilous dangers, and the escape to be experienced 
by stepping out from these four elements, I did not declare My Perfect and Full Awakening in 
existence, this world with all its Gods, Māras, and Brahma Gods, along with its populations of 
recluses, religious practitioners, and brahmins, as well as the human and non-human beings 
found within it. 
 
“Therefore, Bhikkhus, it was only after I fully understood and wisely discerned the full range 
and spectrum of seeking that gratification, the perilous dangers, and the escape to be experienced 
by stepping out from these four elements, that I did declare My Perfect and Full Awakening in 
existence, this world with all its Gods, Māras, and Brahma Gods, along with its populations of 
recluses, religious practitioners, and brahmins, as well as the human and non-human beings 
found within it. 
 
“And it was right then, that the direct understanding and unmistakable knowledge arose within 
me, and I saw that – 
 
‘Unshakable is my Liberation! 
This is indeed my very last birth,  
For, truly there is no more rebirths left for me now, 
Nor is even possible, into any future life, at all!’ 
 
 
 
Sādhu  
Sādhu  
Sādhu
