[302] Now at that time, the chieftain Pāyāsi had gone up to the upper story of his palace for his midday rest. The chieftain Pāyāsi saw the brahmins and householders of Setabyā who, having departed from Setabyā, were going northward, formed into group upon group; and seeing them, he addressed his steward (khatta): "Good steward, why are the brahmins and householders of Setabyā, having departed from Setabyā, going northward toward the sīsapā grove, formed into group upon group?"
"There is, sire, the ascetic Kumārakassapa, a disciple of the ascetic Gotama, who, wandering on tour among the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of bhikkhus (bhikkhu), some five hundred bhikkhus, has arrived at Setabyā and is dwelling to the north of Setabyā, in the sīsapā grove. And concerning that worthy Kumārakassapa this fair report of fame has spread: 'He is wise, accomplished, intelligent, greatly learned, a brilliant speaker, of excellent ready wit, both an awakened one and an arahant.' These people are going to see that worthy Kumārakassapa."
"Well then, good steward, go to the brahmins and householders of Setabyā, and having approached, say this to the brahmins and householders of Setabyā: 'Sirs, the chieftain Pāyāsi says: Let the worthy sirs wait; the chieftain Pāyāsi too will go to see the ascetic Kumārakassapa.' Before now the ascetic Kumārakassapa has been persuading the foolish and incompetent brahmins and householders of Setabyā thus: 'Even so: there is the other world, there are beings spontaneously reborn, there is fruit and result of deeds well done and ill done.' But in truth, good steward, there is no other world, there are no beings spontaneously reborn, there is no fruit and result of deeds well done and ill done."
"So be it, sire," that steward replied in assent to the chieftain Pāyāsi, and he went to the brahmins and householders of Setabyā; having approached, he said this to the brahmins and householders of Setabyā: "Sirs, the chieftain Pāyāsi says: Let the worthy sirs wait; the chieftain Pāyāsi too will go to see the ascetic Kumārakassapa."
Then the chieftain Pāyāsi, surrounded by the brahmins and householders of Setabyā, went to the sīsapā grove, where the Venerable Kumārakassapa was; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Venerable Kumārakassapa, and when the courteous and memorable talk was concluded, he sat down to one side. And of the brahmins and householders of Setabyā, some paid homage to the Venerable Kumārakassapa and sat down to one side; some exchanged greetings with the Venerable Kumārakassapa, and when the courteous and memorable talk was concluded, sat down to one side; some raised their joined palms in salutation toward the Venerable Kumārakassapa and sat down to one side; some announced their name and clan and sat down to one side; some sat down to one side in silence.
Seated to one side, the chieftain Pāyāsi said this to the Venerable Kumārakassapa: "Worthy Kassapa, I am one of such doctrine, of such view: 'Even so: there is no other world, there are no beings spontaneously reborn, there is no fruit and result of deeds well done and ill done.'"
"Have I then, chieftain, ever seen or heard of one of such doctrine, of such view? For how indeed could anyone say thus: 'Even so: there is no other world, there are no beings spontaneously reborn, there is no fruit and result of deeds well done and ill done'? Well then, chieftain, I shall question you in return on this very matter; you may answer it as seems fit to you. What do you think, chieftain: this moon and sun — are they in this world or in the other? Are they gods or humans?"
"Worthy Kassapa, this moon and sun are in the other world, not in this; they are gods, not humans."
"By this very method of yours, chieftain, let it stand thus: 'Even so: there is the other world, there are beings spontaneously reborn, there is fruit and result of deeds well done and ill done.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.