[66] There was indeed a time, Vāseṭṭha, when even a khattiya (aristocrat), criticizing his own dhamma (duty), went forth from the home life into homelessness, thinking, 'I will be an ascetic (samaṇa).' A brāhmaṇa too, Vāseṭṭha … A vessa too, Vāseṭṭha … A sudda too, criticizing his own dhamma, went forth from the home life into homelessness, thinking, 'I will be an ascetic.' From these four circles (maṇḍala), Vāseṭṭha, the circle of ascetics came into being — from those very beings, not from others; from those like them, not from those unlike; by Dhamma alone, not against Dhamma. For Dhamma, Vāseṭṭha, is the best among this people, both in this very life and in the life to come.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.