[317] "Well then, chieftain (rājañña), I shall make a simile for you; for by means of a simile some intelligent persons here understand the meaning of what is said. Once upon a time, chieftain, a certain fire-worshiping matted-hair ascetic (jaṭila) dwelt in a leaf hut in a wilderness region. Then, chieftain, a caravan encampment from a certain country set out. That caravan camped for one night near the hermitage of that fire-worshiping matted-hair ascetic and then departed. Then, chieftain, it occurred to that fire-worshiping matted-hair ascetic: 'What if I were to go to that caravan's campsite? Perhaps I might find some useful article there.' So the fire-worshiping matted-hair ascetic, rising early, went to that caravan's campsite, and there in the campsite he saw a tender young boy, delicate, lying on his back, abandoned. Seeing him, he thought: 'It is not fitting for me that a human being should die while I look on. What if I were to take this child to my hermitage, and nurse him, feed him, and raise him?' So the fire-worshiping matted-hair ascetic took that child to the hermitage, and nursed him, fed him, and raised him.
When the boy was about ten or twelve years of age, some business arose for that fire-worshiping matted-hair ascetic in the country. So the fire-worshiping matted-hair ascetic said to the boy: 'My dear, I wish to go to the country. You must tend the fire; and do not let your fire go out. But if your fire should go out, here is the hatchet, here is the firewood, here is the fire-drill kit: kindle a fire and tend the fire.' Having thus instructed the boy, the fire-worshiping matted-hair ascetic went to the country.
While the boy was engrossed in play, the fire went out. Then it occurred to that boy: 'My father said this to me: "My dear, you must tend the fire; and do not let your fire go out. But if your fire should go out, here is the hatchet, here is the firewood, here is the fire-drill kit: kindle a fire and tend the fire." What if I were to kindle a fire and tend the fire?' Then the boy chopped at the fire-drill kit with the hatchet, thinking: 'Perhaps I shall find fire.' But he found no fire. He split the fire-drill kit into two, split it into three, split it into four, split it into five, split it into ten, split it into twenty; he made it into splinter after splinter; having made it into splinter after splinter, he pounded it in a mortar; having pounded it in a mortar, he winnowed it in a strong wind, thinking: 'Perhaps I shall find fire.' But he found no fire.
Then the fire-worshiping matted-hair ascetic, having concluded that business in the country, returned to his own hermitage; and having returned, he said to the boy: 'I trust, my dear, that your fire has not gone out?' 'Father, while I was engrossed in play here, the fire went out. Then it occurred to me: "My father said this to me: 'My dear, you must tend the fire; and do not let your fire go out, my dear. But if your fire should go out, here is the hatchet, here is the firewood, here is the fire-drill kit: kindle a fire and tend the fire.' What if I were to kindle a fire and tend the fire?" Then, father, I chopped at the fire-drill kit with the hatchet, thinking: "Perhaps I shall find fire." But I found no fire. I split the fire-drill kit into two, split it into three, split it into four, split it into five, split it into ten, split it into twenty; I made it into splinter after splinter; having made it into splinter after splinter, I pounded it in a mortar; having pounded it in a mortar, I winnowed it in a strong wind, thinking: "Perhaps I shall find fire." But I found no fire.'
Then it occurred to that fire-worshiping matted-hair ascetic: 'How foolish is this boy, how incompetent! For how indeed could he seek fire so irrationally?' While the boy looked on, he took the fire-drill kit, kindled a fire, and said to the boy: 'This, my dear, is how a fire should be kindled — not in the way that you, foolish and incompetent, sought fire irrationally.'
In just the same way, chieftain, you, foolish and incompetent, are seeking the other world irrationally. Let go, chieftain, of that evil view! Let go, chieftain, of that evil view! Let it not be for your harm and suffering for a long time."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.