Like the earth does not get irritated, like a well-planted Indra’s pillar, like a lake without mud — for such a one there is no samsara.

Paṭhavīsamo no virujjhati — like the earth does not get irritated: earth receives everything — garbage and flowers, the dead and the born — without getting irritated, without rejecting anything nor clinging to anything. This natural equanimity is the model for the arahant.

Indakhīlūpamo tādino — like an Indra’s pillar well planted: the indakhīla was the great stone planted at the gates of Indian cities, symbol of immovable firmness. One who is tādin (equanimous, such) is planted like that pillar.

Rahado va apetakaddamo — like a lake without mud: without the turbulence of mud, water reflects clearly. Without the perturbations of greed and aversion, the mind reflects reality as it is.

Saṃsārā na bhavanti tādino — for such a one there is no samsara: the mechanism of compulsion that generates the cycle of existence has ceased. The arahant may continue living in the world but is no longer trapped in its cycle. This is the functional definition of nibbana in this life.