The Buddha describes the three elements - 1.) form element, 2.) formless element, and 3.) element of cessation.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Awakened One, as I have heard:
“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, dhātuyo. Katamā tisso? Rūpadhātu, arūpadhātu, nirodhadhātu—imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso dhātuyo”ti.
“There are these three elements|, bhikkhus.::::.| What are the three? The |form element::objects of vision, materials, including the realm and objects of subtle materiality [rūpadhātu]|, the |formless element::states not rooted in materiality, including mental realms and meditative attainments beyond physical form [arūpadhātu]| and the |element of cessation::the complete ending of conditioned phenomena, including the cessation of perception and what is felt, leading to Nibbāna [nirodhadhātu]|. These|, bhikkhus,::::| are the three elements.”
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“Rūpadhātuṁ pariññāya,
āruppesu asaṇṭhitā;
Nirodhe ye vimuccanti,
te janā maccuhāyino.
“|Completely comprehending::fully understanding [pariññāya]| the element of form,
and |not caught in::not fixed in, not attached to [asaṇṭhita]| the formless states,
those who are freed through cessation
are the ones |who have gone beyond death::who have transcended mortality [maccuhāyino]|.
Kāyena amataṁ dhātuṁ,
phusayitvā nirūpadhiṁ;
Upadhippaṭinissaggaṁ,
sacchikatvā anāsavo;
Deseti sammāsambuddho,
asokaṁ virajaṁ padan”ti.
Having touched the |deathless::deathless state, epithet of Nibbāna [amata]| element with the body,
experiencing the state |free from attachment::free from grasping, not taking as mine, not appropriating; lit. not placing near [nirūpadhi]|,
and realizing the |relinquishing of acquisition::abandoning of identification [upadhippaṭinissagga]|,
free from the taints,
the |perfectly Awakened One::fully awakened being, fully enlightened being [sammāsambuddha]| teaches
the sorrow-free, |unblemished::pure, stainless [viraja]| state.”
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Awakened One, as I have heard:
“There are these three elements|, bhikkhus.::::.| What are the three? The |form element::objects of vision, materials, including the realm and objects of subtle materiality [rūpadhātu]|, the |formless element::states not rooted in materiality, including mental realms and meditative attainments beyond physical form [arūpadhātu]| and the |element of cessation::the complete ending of conditioned phenomena, including the cessation of perception and what is felt, leading to Nibbāna [nirodhadhātu]|. These|, bhikkhus,::::| are the three elements.”
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“|Completely comprehending::fully understanding [pariññāya]| the element of form,
and |not caught in::not fixed in, not attached to [asaṇṭhita]| the formless states,
those who are freed through cessation
are the ones |who have gone beyond death::who have transcended mortality [maccuhāyino]|.
Having touched the |deathless::deathless state, epithet of Nibbāna [amata]| element with the body,
experiencing the state |free from attachment::free from grasping, not taking as mine, not appropriating; lit. not placing near [nirūpadhi]|,
and realizing the |relinquishing of acquisition::abandoning of identification [upadhippaṭinissagga]|,
free from the taints,
the |perfectly Awakened One::fully awakened being, fully enlightened being [sammāsambuddha]| teaches
the sorrow-free, |unblemished::pure, stainless [viraja]| state.”
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, dhātuyo. Katamā tisso? Rūpadhātu, arūpadhātu, nirodhadhātu—imā kho, bhikkhave, tisso dhātuyo”ti.
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
“Rūpadhātuṁ pariññāya,
āruppesu asaṇṭhitā;
Nirodhe ye vimuccanti,
te janā maccuhāyino.
Kāyena amataṁ dhātuṁ,
phusayitvā nirūpadhiṁ;
Upadhippaṭinissaggaṁ,
sacchikatvā anāsavo;
Deseti sammāsambuddho,
asokaṁ virajaṁ padan”ti.
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.