Monks, before my Enlightenment, while I was still unawakened, not yet fully Enlightened, I too, being myself subject to birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, and defilement; sought what was also subject to birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, and defilement, I sought what was also subject to aging, sickness, death, sorrow, and defilement.

And what may be said to be subject birth, to aging, sickness, death sorrow, defilement?

Wife and children are subject to birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, defilement; men and women slaves, goats and sheep, fowl and pigs, elephants, cattle, horses and mares, gold and silver are subject to birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, defilement. These objects of attachment are subject to birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, defilement; and one who is tied to these things, obsessed with them, and entirely craving them, being himself subject to birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, defilement, seeks what is also subject to birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, defilement.

Then I considered thus: Why, being myself subject to birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, defilement, do I seek what is also subject to birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, defilement?

Suppose that, being myself subject to birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, and defilement, having understood the danger in what is subject to birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, and defilement, I seek the unborn, unaging, unailing, deathless (Enlightenment), sorrowless, and undefiled supreme security from bondage, Nibbāna (Enlightenment).

Later, while still young, a black-haired young man endowed with youthfulness, in the prime of life, though my mother and father wished otherwise and wept with tearful faces, I shaved off my hair and beard, put on the yellow robe, and went forth from the home life into homelessness.

Here, Bhāradvāja, before my Enlightenment, while I was still unawakened, not yet fully Enlightened, I considered thus:

Household life is crowded and dusty; life gone forth is wide open. It is not easy while living in a home to lead the holy life entirely perfect and pure as a polished shell.

Suppose I shave off my hair and beard, put on the yellow robe, and go forth from the home life into homelessness.