[297] "Friend, if the Blessed One had declared purification of virtue (sīlavisuddhi) to be final Nibbāna without clinging (anupādāparinibbāna), he would have declared what is still accompanied by clinging to be final Nibbāna without clinging. If, friend, the Blessed One had declared purification of mind (citta) (cittavisuddhi) to be final Nibbāna without clinging, he would have declared what is still accompanied by clinging to be final Nibbāna without clinging. If, friend, the Blessed One had declared purification of view (diṭṭhivisuddhi) to be final Nibbāna without clinging, he would have declared what is still accompanied by clinging to be final Nibbāna without clinging. If, friend, the Blessed One had declared purification by overcoming doubt (kaṅkhāvitaraṇavisuddhi) to be final Nibbāna without clinging, he would have declared what is still accompanied by clinging to be final Nibbāna without clinging. If, friend, the Blessed One had declared purification by knowledge (ñāṇa) and vision of what is the path and what is not the path (maggāmaggañāṇadassanavisuddhi) to be final Nibbāna without clinging, he would have declared what is still accompanied by clinging to be final Nibbāna without clinging. If, friend, the Blessed One had declared purification by knowledge and vision of the way (paṭipadāñāṇadassanavisuddhi) to be final Nibbāna without clinging, he would have declared what is still accompanied by clinging to be final Nibbāna without clinging. If, friend, the Blessed One had declared purification by knowledge and vision (ñāṇadassanavisuddhi) to be final Nibbāna without clinging, he would have declared what is still accompanied by clinging to be final Nibbāna without clinging. And if, friend, final Nibbāna without clinging were apart from these dhammas, then an ordinary person (puthujjana) would attain final Nibbāna; for the ordinary person, friend, is apart from these dhammas. Well then, friend, I shall make a simile for you; for by means of a simile some wise persons here understand the meaning of what is said."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.