[39] Then, bhikkhus, the head-anointed khattiya king, having assembled the ministers and councillors, the accountants and chief ministers, the officers of the troops, the gatekeepers, and those who live by counsel, asked them about the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch. Being asked by him about the noble duty of a wheel-turning monarch, they answered him. Having heard them, he did indeed arrange righteous watch, ward, and protection, but he did not provide wealth to those without wealth. When wealth was not provided to those without wealth, poverty became widespread. When poverty had become widespread, a certain man took by way of theft what others had not given. They seized him, and having seized him, presented him to the head-anointed khattiya king, saying: 'Sire, this man has taken by way of theft what others had not given.' When this was said, bhikkhus, the head-anointed khattiya king said this to that man: 'Is it true, as they say, my good man, that you took by way of theft what others had not given?'
The man: 'It is true, sire.'
The king: 'For what reason?'
The man: 'Sire, I cannot make a living.'
Then, bhikkhus, the head-anointed khattiya king provided wealth to that man, saying: 'With this wealth, my good man, keep yourself alive, support your mother and father, support your wife and children, apply yourself to work, and establish for ascetics and brahmins an uplifting offering—heavenly, ripening in happiness, conducive to heaven.' 'Yes, sire,' bhikkhus, that man replied to the head-anointed khattiya king.
Bhikkhus, yet another man also took by way of theft what others had not given. They seized him, and having seized him, presented him to the head-anointed khattiya king, saying: 'Sire, this man has taken by way of theft what others had not given.' When this was said, bhikkhus, the head-anointed khattiya king said this to that man: 'Is it true, as they say, my good man, that you took by way of theft what others had not given?'
The man: 'It is true, sire.'
The king: 'For what reason?'
The man: 'Sire, I cannot make a living.'
Then, bhikkhus, the head-anointed khattiya king provided wealth to that man, saying: 'With this wealth, my good man, keep yourself alive, support your mother and father, support your wife and children, apply yourself to work, and establish for ascetics and brahmins an uplifting offering—heavenly, ripening in happiness, conducive to heaven.' 'Yes, sire,' bhikkhus, that man replied to the head-anointed khattiya king.
Bhikkhus, people heard: 'It seems, sirs, that to those who take by way of theft what others have not given, the king provides wealth!' Having heard this, it occurred to them: 'Suppose we too were to take by way of theft what others have not given.'
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.