[3] "'But, venerable sir, the Blessed One does not declare to me the beginning of things (aggañña).'
'But, Sunakkhatta, did I ever speak to you thus: "Come, Sunakkhatta, live dedicated to me, and I will declare the beginning of things to you"?'
'No indeed, venerable sir.'
'Or did you ever speak to me thus: "Venerable sir, I will live dedicated to the Blessed One, and the Blessed One will declare the beginning of things to me"?'
'No indeed, venerable sir.'
'So it seems, Sunakkhatta, that I did not say to you: "Come, Sunakkhatta, live dedicated to me, and I will declare the beginning of things to you"; nor did you say to me: "Venerable sir, I will live dedicated to the Blessed One, and the Blessed One will declare the beginning of things to me." That being so, foolish man, who are you, and what is it you renounce? What do you think, Sunakkhatta? Whether the beginning of things is declared or the beginning of things is not declared, does the Dhamma taught by me for that purpose lead the one who practices accordingly to the complete destruction of suffering (dukkha)?'
'Venerable sir, whether the beginning of things is declared or the beginning of things is not declared, the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One for that purpose leads the one who practices accordingly to the complete destruction of suffering.'
'So it seems, Sunakkhatta, that whether the beginning of things is declared or the beginning of things is not declared, the Dhamma taught by me for that purpose leads the one who practices accordingly to the complete destruction of suffering. That being so, Sunakkhatta, what would a declaration of the beginning of things accomplish? See, foolish man, how far you have gone wrong in this!
'In many ways, Sunakkhatta, you have spoken my praise in the Vajjian village thus: "Thus indeed is that Blessed One: an arahant, fully awakened by himself, accomplished in true knowledge (vijjā) and conduct, fortunate, knower of the world, unsurpassed trainer of persons fit to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed." Thus indeed, Sunakkhatta, in many ways you have spoken my praise in the Vajjian village.
'In many ways, Sunakkhatta, you have spoken the praise of the Dhamma in the Vajjian village thus: "Well proclaimed by the Blessed One is the Dhamma, visible here and now, timeless, inviting one to come and see, leading onward, to be known individually by the wise." Thus indeed, Sunakkhatta, in many ways you have spoken the praise of the Dhamma in the Vajjian village.
'In many ways, Sunakkhatta, you have spoken the praise of the Saṅgha in the Vajjian village thus: "The Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing well; the Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing uprightly; the Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing methodically; the Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing properly — that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight individuals. This Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world." Thus indeed, Sunakkhatta, in many ways you have spoken the praise of the Saṅgha in the Vajjian village.
'I inform you, Sunakkhatta, I make it known to you, Sunakkhatta: there will be those, Sunakkhatta, who will say: "Sunakkhatta the Licchavi's son was not able to lead the holy life under the ascetic Gotama; being unable, he renounced the training and reverted to the lower life." Thus indeed, Sunakkhatta, there will be those who will say this.'
Even when spoken to by me thus, Bhaggava, Sunakkhatta the Licchavi's son departed from this Dhamma and Discipline, like one bound for the plane of misery, bound for hell."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.