[36] Bhikkhus, as Prince Vipassī was driving out to the pleasure park, he saw a great crowd of people gathered together and a bier being made of cloths dyed in various colours. Having seen this, he addressed the charioteer: 'Friend charioteer, why has that great crowd of people gathered, and why is a bier of cloths dyed in various colours being made?'
'That, sire, is what is called one who has died.'
'Then, friend charioteer, drive the chariot to where that dead man is.'
'Yes, sire,' bhikkhus, the charioteer replied to Prince Vipassī, and drove the chariot to where that dead man was.
Bhikkhus, Prince Vipassī saw the departed one, the dead man; having seen him, he addressed the charioteer: 'But, friend charioteer, why is this one called dead?'
'This, sire, is what is called one who has died: now his mother and father and his other relatives and kin will see him no more, nor will he see his mother and father or his other relatives and kin.'
'But, friend charioteer, am I too subject to death, not beyond death? Will the King and the Queen and my other relatives and kin see me no more, and will I too see the King and the Queen and my other relatives and kin no more?'
'Both you, sire, and we are all subject to death, not beyond death. The King and the Queen and your other relatives and kin will see you no more, and you too will see the King and the Queen and your other relatives and kin no more.'
'Then, friend charioteer, enough now of the pleasure park for today; turn back from here to the inner palace.'
'Yes, sire,' bhikkhus, the charioteer replied to Prince Vipassī, and turned back from there to the inner palace.
There, bhikkhus, Prince Vipassī, having gone to the inner palace, brooded, pained and dejected: 'Shame, alas, upon this thing called birth (jāti), since for one who is born, aging will appear, sickness will appear, death will appear!'
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.