[314] "And what, bhikkhus, is the ignoble quest? Here, bhikkhus, someone, being himself subject to birth (jāti), seeks only what is likewise subject to birth; being himself subject to aging, seeks only what is likewise subject to aging; being himself subject to sickness, seeks only what is likewise subject to sickness; being himself subject to death, seeks only what is likewise subject to death; being himself subject to sorrow, seeks only what is likewise subject to sorrow; being himself subject to defilement, seeks only what is likewise subject to defilement.
"And what, bhikkhus, would you say is subject to birth? Sons and wives, bhikkhus, are subject to birth; female and male slaves are subject to birth; goats and sheep are subject to birth; chickens and pigs are subject to birth; elephants, cattle, horses, and mares are subject to birth; gold and silver are subject to birth. These acquisitions (upadhi), bhikkhus, are subject to birth; and one who is tied to them, infatuated with them, and addicted to them, being himself subject to birth, seeks only what is likewise subject to birth.
"And what, bhikkhus, would you say is subject to aging? Sons and wives, bhikkhus, are subject to aging; female and male slaves are subject to aging; goats and sheep are subject to aging; chickens and pigs are subject to aging; elephants, cattle, horses, and mares are subject to aging; gold and silver are subject to aging. These acquisitions, bhikkhus, are subject to aging; and one who is tied to them, infatuated with them, and addicted to them, being himself subject to aging, seeks only what is likewise subject to aging.
"And what, bhikkhus, would you say is subject to sickness? Sons and wives, bhikkhus, are subject to sickness; female and male slaves are subject to sickness; goats and sheep are subject to sickness; chickens and pigs are subject to sickness; elephants, cattle, horses, and mares are subject to sickness; gold and silver are subject to sickness. These acquisitions, bhikkhus, are subject to sickness; and one who is tied to them, infatuated with them, and addicted to them, being himself subject to sickness, seeks only what is likewise subject to sickness.
"And what, bhikkhus, would you say is subject to death? Sons and wives, bhikkhus, are subject to death; female and male slaves are subject to death; goats and sheep are subject to death; chickens and pigs are subject to death; elephants, cattle, horses, and mares are subject to death; gold and silver are subject to death. These acquisitions, bhikkhus, are subject to death; and one who is tied to them, infatuated with them, and addicted to them, being himself subject to death, seeks only what is likewise subject to death.
"And what, bhikkhus, would you say is subject to sorrow? Sons and wives, bhikkhus, are subject to sorrow; female and male slaves are subject to sorrow; goats and sheep are subject to sorrow; chickens and pigs are subject to sorrow; elephants, cattle, horses, and mares are subject to sorrow; gold and silver are subject to sorrow. These acquisitions, bhikkhus, are subject to sorrow; and one who is tied to them, infatuated with them, and addicted to them, being himself subject to sorrow, seeks only what is likewise subject to sorrow.
"And what, bhikkhus, would you say is subject to defilement? Sons and wives, bhikkhus, are subject to defilement; female and male slaves are subject to defilement; goats and sheep are subject to defilement; chickens and pigs are subject to defilement; elephants, cattle, horses, and mares are subject to defilement; gold and silver are subject to defilement. These acquisitions, bhikkhus, are subject to defilement; and one who is tied to them, infatuated with them, and addicted to them, being himself subject to defilement, seeks only what is likewise subject to defilement.
"This, bhikkhus, is the ignoble quest."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.