[16] Then, when that night had passed, the mother of the Venerable Sudinna had the ground smeared with fresh cow-dung and had two heaps made — one of silver and one of gold — heaps so great that a man standing on this side could not see a man standing on the other side, and a man standing on the other side could not see a man standing on this side. Having had those heaps covered over with matting screens, having had a seat prepared in the middle, and having had it enclosed round about with a curtain, she addressed the former wife (purāṇadutiyikā) of the Venerable Sudinna: "Well then, daughter-in-law, adorn yourself with that adornment with which, so adorned, you were dear and pleasing to my son Sudinna." "Yes, my lady," the former wife of the Venerable Sudinna assented to the mother of the Venerable Sudinna.
Then in the morning the Venerable Sudinna, having dressed and taking his bowl and robe, approached the dwelling of his own father; having approached, he sat down on the seat that had been prepared. Then the father of the Venerable Sudinna approached the Venerable Sudinna; having approached, he had those heaps uncovered and said this to the Venerable Sudinna: "This, dear Sudinna, is your mother's portion — a woman's wealth belonging to a woman; your father's is another, your grandfather's is another. It is possible, dear Sudinna, having returned to the lower life, both to enjoy wealth and to make merit. Come, dear Sudinna: return to the lower life, enjoy wealth, and make merit."
"Householder, I am not able, I cannot venture it. Delighting therein, I live the holy life (brahmacariya)."
For a second time … For a third time the father of the Venerable Sudinna said this to the Venerable Sudinna: "This, dear Sudinna, is your mother's portion — a woman's wealth belonging to a woman; your father's is another, your grandfather's is another. It is possible, dear Sudinna, having returned to the lower life, both to enjoy wealth and to make merit. Come, dear Sudinna: return to the lower life, enjoy wealth, and make merit."
"We would say something to you, householder, if you would not take it amiss."
"Speak, dear Sudinna."
"Well then, householder, have great big hempen sacks made, have them filled with silver and gold, have them carried out on carts, and sink them in the stream in the middle of the Gaṅgā. And why? Because whatever fear, or trembling, or horripilation, or need of guarding would arise for you on account of that wealth, householder — that will not be yours."
When this was said, the father of the Venerable Sudinna was displeased, thinking: "How indeed can my son Sudinna speak thus!" Then the father of the Venerable Sudinna addressed the former wife of the Venerable Sudinna: "Well then, daughter-in-law, since you are dear and pleasing to him, perhaps my son Sudinna would do as you say."
Then the former wife of the Venerable Sudinna, taking hold of the Venerable Sudinna's feet, said this to the Venerable Sudinna: "Of what sort, young master, are those nymphs (accharā) for whose sake you live the holy life?"
"Sister, I do not live the holy life for the sake of nymphs."
Then the former wife of the Venerable Sudinna, thinking, "From this day forward the young master Sudinna addresses me with the word 'sister'," fainted and fell down on that very spot.
Then the Venerable Sudinna said this to his father: "If, householder, there is food to be given, give it; do not trouble us." "Eat, dear Sudinna." Then the mother and father of the Venerable Sudinna with their own hands served and satisfied the Venerable Sudinna with excellent hard and soft food. Then the mother of the Venerable Sudinna, when the Venerable Sudinna had eaten and had withdrawn his hand from the bowl, said this to the Venerable Sudinna: "This family, dear Sudinna, is rich, of great wealth, of great possessions, with abundant gold and silver, abundant means of pleasure, abundant wealth and grain. It is possible, dear Sudinna, having returned to the lower life, both to enjoy wealth and to make merit. Come, dear Sudinna: return to the lower life, enjoy wealth, and make merit."
"Mother, I am not able, I cannot venture it. Delighting therein, I live the holy life."
For a second time … For a third time the mother of the Venerable Sudinna said this to the Venerable Sudinna: "This family, dear Sudinna, is rich, of great wealth, of great possessions, with abundant gold and silver, abundant means of pleasure, abundant wealth and grain. Well then, dear Sudinna, give at least a seed (bījaka), lest the Licchavis carry off our sonless property."
"That, mother, I am able to do."
"But where, dear Sudinna, are you dwelling at present?"
"In the Mahāvana, mother."
Then the Venerable Sudinna rose from his seat and departed.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.