[313] "Well then, chieftain, I shall give you a simile; for by means of a simile some sensible persons here understand the meaning of what is said. Suppose, chieftain, a man were to weigh on a scale an iron ball that had been heated all day — burning, blazing, and glowing; and then at a later time he were to weigh it on the scale when it was cool and quenched. When would that iron ball be lighter, softer, or more workable — when it is burning, blazing, and glowing, or when it is cool and quenched?"
"Worthy Kassapa, when that iron ball is accompanied by fire and accompanied by air — burning, blazing, and glowing — then it is lighter, softer, and more workable. But when that iron ball is neither accompanied by fire nor accompanied by air — cool and quenched — then it is heavier, stiffer, and less workable."
"Just so, chieftain, when this body is accompanied by vitality (āyu), accompanied by warmth (usmā), and accompanied by consciousness (viññāṇa), then it is lighter, softer, and more workable. But when this body is neither accompanied by vitality, nor accompanied by warmth, nor accompanied by consciousness, then it is heavier, stiffer, and less workable. By this method too, chieftain, let it be established for you that: 'There is indeed another 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English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.