[310] "Well then, chieftain, I shall give you a simile; for by means of a simile some discerning persons here understand the meaning of what is said. Once upon a time, chieftain, a certain brahmin had two wives. One had a son ten or twelve years of age; the other was pregnant, about to give birth. Then that brahmin died. Then the youth said to his mother's co-wife: 'Madam, whatever wealth or grain or silver or gold there is, all of it is mine; you have no share whatever in it. Madam, hand over to me the inheritance that belonged to my father.' When this was said, the brahmin lady said to the youth: 'Wait, my dear, until I give birth. If it is a boy, one portion shall be his also; if it is a girl, she too shall be for your use.'
A second time the youth said to his mother's co-wife: 'Madam, whatever wealth or grain or silver or gold there is, all of it is mine; you have no share whatever in it. Madam, hand over to me the inheritance that belonged to my father.' A second time the brahmin lady said to the youth: 'Wait, my dear, until I give birth. If it is a boy, one portion shall be his also; if it is a girl, she too shall be for your use.' A third time the youth said to his mother's co-wife: 'Madam, whatever wealth or grain or silver or gold there is, all of it is mine; you have no share whatever in it. Madam, hand over to me the inheritance that belonged to my father.'
Then the brahmin lady took a knife, entered her inner chamber, and cut open her belly, thinking: 'Until I know whether it is a boy or a girl!' Thus she destroyed herself, her life, the child in her womb, and the wealth besides—as happens when one who is foolish and incompetent, seeking an inheritance irrationally, comes to ruin and disaster. In the same way, chieftain, you—foolish and incompetent, seeking the other world irrationally—will come to ruin and disaster, just like that brahmin lady who, foolish and incompetent, seeking an inheritance irrationally, came to ruin and disaster.
Chieftain, ascetics and brahmins who are virtuous and of good character do not force to ripeness what is unripe; being wise, they await its ripening. For the life of virtuous ascetics and brahmins of good character stands apart from that of others: for as long, chieftain, as virtuous ascetics and brahmins of good character remain standing for a long time, for a great span, so long do they generate much merit, and they practise for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.
By this method too, chieftain, let it be thus: even so, there is another world … there is fruit and result."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.