[414] Moreover, Aggivessana, three similes occurred to me spontaneously (anacchariyā), never heard before.
Suppose, Aggivessana, there were a wet, sappy log lying in water. Then a man might come along, taking an upper fire-stick, thinking: 'I shall kindle a fire, I shall produce heat.' What do you think, Aggivessana — could that man, taking the upper fire-stick and rubbing it against that wet, sappy log lying in water, kindle a fire and produce heat?
"That is impossible, worthy Gotama. Why is that? Because, worthy Gotama, that log is wet and sappy, and moreover it is lying in water; that man would only reap weariness and vexation."
"Even so, Aggivessana, whatever ascetics or brahmins dwell not withdrawn in body from sensual pleasures, and whose sensual desire (kāmacchanda), sensual affection, sensual infatuation, sensual thirst, and sensual fever for sensual pleasures is not well abandoned and not well stilled within — even if those worthy ascetics and brahmins feel painful, racking, sharp, severe feelings (vedanā) arising from exertion, they are incapable of knowledge (ñāṇa), of vision, of unsurpassed full awakening; and even if those worthy ascetics and brahmins do not feel painful, racking, sharp, severe feelings arising from exertion, they are incapable of knowledge, of vision, of unsurpassed full awakening. This, Aggivessana, was the first simile that occurred to me spontaneously, never heard before."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.