At Sāvatthi.

"Bhikkhus, I investigated the gratification in the earth element, and whatever gratification there is in the earth element, I directly experienced it. As far as the gratification in the earth element goes, it has been thoroughly seen by me with wisdom. Bhikkhus, I investigated the drawback in the earth element, and whatever drawback there is in the earth element, I directly experienced it. As far as the drawback in the earth element goes, it has been thoroughly seen by me with wisdom. Bhikkhus, I investigated the escape in regard to the earth element, and whatever escape there is in regard to the earth element, I directly experienced it. As far as the escape in regard to the earth element goes, it has been thoroughly seen by me with wisdom.

Bhikkhus, I investigated the gratification in the water element, and whatever gratification there is in the water element, I directly experienced it. As far as the gratification in the water element goes, it has been thoroughly seen by me with wisdom. Bhikkhus, I investigated the drawback in the water element, and whatever drawback there is in the water element, I directly experienced it. As far as the drawback in the water element goes, it has been thoroughly seen by me with wisdom. Bhikkhus, I investigated the escape in regard to the water element, and whatever escape there is in regard to the water element, I directly experienced it. As far as the escape in regard to the water element goes, it has been thoroughly seen by me with wisdom.

Bhikkhus, I investigated the gratification in the fire element, and whatever gratification there is in the fire element, I directly experienced it. As far as the gratification in the fire element goes, it has been thoroughly seen by me with wisdom. Bhikkhus, I investigated the drawback in the fire element, and whatever drawback there is in the fire element, I directly experienced it. As far as the drawback in the fire element goes, it has been thoroughly seen by me with wisdom. Bhikkhus, I investigated the escape in regard to the fire element, and whatever escape there is in regard to the fire element, I directly experienced it. As far as the escape in regard to the fire element goes, it has been thoroughly seen by me with wisdom.

Bhikkhus, I investigated the gratification in the air element, and whatever gratification there is in the air element, I directly experienced it. As far as the gratification in the air element goes, it has been thoroughly seen by me with wisdom. Bhikkhus, I investigated the drawback in the air element, and whatever drawback there is in the air element, I directly experienced it. As far as the drawback in the air element goes, it has been thoroughly seen by me with wisdom. Bhikkhus, I investigated the escape in regard to the air element, and whatever escape there is in regard to the air element, I directly experienced it. As far as the escape in regard to the air element goes, it has been thoroughly seen by me with wisdom.

Bhikkhus, as long as I did not experientially understand, as they truly are, the gratification as gratification, the drawback as drawback, and the escape as escape in regard to these four elements, I did not claim to have awakened to the unsurpassed perfect awakening in this world with its deities, Māras, and Brahmās, among this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, its kings and commoners.

But bhikkhus, when I experientially understood, as they truly are, the gratification as gratification, the drawback as drawback, and the escape as escape in regard to these four elements, only then did I claim to have awakened to the unsurpassed perfect awakening in this world with its deities, Māras, and Brahmās, among this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, its kings and commoners.

Wisdom and vision arose in me: 'My liberation is unshakable, this is my final birth, now there is no more renewed existence.'"