FootprintsPadasutta

“The footprints of all creatures that walk can fit inside an elephant’s footprint, so an elephant’s footprint is said to be the biggest of them all.“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yāni kānici jaṅgalānaṁ pāṇānaṁ padajātāni sabbāni tāni hatthipade samodhānaṁ gacchanti, hatthipadaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ—mahantattena; In the same way, the faculty of wisdom is said to be the best of the steps that lead to awakening; that is, for becoming awakened.evameva kho, bhikkhave, yāni kānici padāni bodhāya saṁvattanti, paññindriyaṁ padaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ—bodhāya.

And what are the steps that lead to awakening?Katamāni ca, bhikkhave, padāni bodhāya saṁvattanti? The faculties of faith,Saddhindriyaṁ, bhikkhave, padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; energy,vīriyindriyaṁ padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; mindfulness,satindriyaṁ padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; immersion,samādhindriyaṁ padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; and wisdom are steps that lead to awakening, in that they lead to becoming awakened.paññindriyaṁ padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati.

The footprints of all creatures that walk can fit inside an elephant’s footprint, so an elephant’s footprint is said to be the biggest of them all.Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yāni kānici jaṅgalānaṁ pāṇānaṁ padajātāni sabbāni tāni hatthipade samodhānaṁ gacchanti, hatthipadaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ—mahantattena; In the same way, the faculty of wisdom is said to be the best of the steps that lead to awakening; that is, for becoming awakened. ”evameva kho, bhikkhave, yāni kānici padāni bodhāya saṁvattanti, paññindriyaṁ padaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ—bodhāyā”ti.