[259] "But, dear sir, practicing in what way is a bhikkhu one who is practicing for restraint of the sense faculties (indriyasaṃvara)?"
"Lord of gods, I say that form cognizable by the eye is of two kinds: that which should be cultivated and that which should not be cultivated. I say that sound cognizable by the ear is of two kinds, lord of gods: that which should be cultivated and that which should not be cultivated. I say that odor cognizable by the nose is of two kinds, lord of gods: that which should be cultivated and that which should not be cultivated. And taste cognizable by the tongue, lord of gods … and touch cognizable by the body, lord of gods … and a mental phenomenon (dhamma) cognizable by the mind, lord of gods, I say is of two kinds: that which should be cultivated and that which should not be cultivated."
When this was said, Sakka, lord of gods, said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, I understand the meaning in detail of this statement spoken in brief by the Blessed One thus: such form cognizable by the eye as, when one cultivates it, unwholesome qualities increase and wholesome qualities decline — such form cognizable by the eye should not be cultivated. But such form cognizable by the eye as, when one cultivates it, unwholesome qualities decline and wholesome qualities increase — such form cognizable by the eye should be cultivated. And, venerable sir, such sound cognizable by the ear as, when one cultivates it … such odor cognizable by the nose as, when one cultivates it … such taste cognizable by the tongue as, when one cultivates it … such touch cognizable by the body as, when one cultivates it … such a mental phenomenon cognizable by the mind as, when one cultivates it, unwholesome qualities increase and wholesome qualities decline — such a mental phenomenon cognizable by the mind should not be cultivated. But, venerable sir, such a mental phenomenon cognizable by the mind as, when one cultivates it, unwholesome qualities decline and wholesome qualities increase — such a mental phenomenon cognizable by the mind should be cultivated. Venerable sir, understanding thus in detail the meaning of this statement spoken in brief by the Blessed One, I have here crossed over doubt and my uncertainty has departed, having heard the Blessed One's answer to the question."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.