[14] "Bhaggava, there are some ascetics and brahmins who describe the origin of the world (aggañña), according to their teachers' tradition, as due to those depraved by play (khiḍḍāpadosika). I approach them and say: 'Is it true, as it seems, that you venerable ones describe the origin of the world, according to your teachers' tradition, as due to those depraved by play?' Asked thus by me, they affirm: 'Yes.' I say to them: 'But in what way do you venerable ones describe the origin of the world, according to your teachers' tradition, as due to those depraved by play?' Questioned by me, they cannot explain; unable to explain, they question me in return. Being asked, I answer them:
'Friends, there are gods called "depraved by play." They dwell for an excessive time given over to laughter, play, and delight. As they dwell for an excessive time given over to laughter, play, and delight, their mindfulness (sati) lapses; and through the lapse of mindfulness those gods fall from that host. Now it is possible, friends, that a certain being, having fallen from that host, comes to this state here. Having come to this state, he goes forth from the household life into homelessness. Having gone forth from the household life into homelessness, by means of ardor, striving, application, diligence, and right attention, he attains such concentration of mind (cetosamādhi) that, with the mind (citta) thus concentrated, he recollects that former abode (pubbenivāsa), but recollects nothing beyond it. He says: "Those honorable gods who are not depraved by play do not dwell for an excessive time given over to laughter, play, and delight. As they do not dwell for an excessive time given over to laughter, play, and delight, their mindfulness does not lapse; and through the non-lapse of mindfulness those gods do not fall from that host: they are permanent, stable, eternal, long-lived, of a nature not to change, and they will remain just so, the same for all eternity. But we who were depraved by play dwelt for an excessive time given over to laughter, play, and delight. As we dwelt for an excessive time given over to laughter, play, and delight, our mindfulness lapsed; and through the lapse of mindfulness we fell from that host: we are impermanent, unstable, non-eternal, short-lived, subject to falling away, and have come to this state here." Is it in this way, then, that you venerable ones describe the origin of the world, according to your teachers' tradition, as due to those depraved by play?' They say: 'So indeed have we heard it, friend Gotama, just as the venerable Gotama says.'
And I, Bhaggava, understand the origin of the world … [elided in the Pali] … Directly knowing this, the Tathāgata does not come to ruin."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.