[177] "In the same way, Udāyī, when certain foolish persons (moghapurisā) here are told by me, 'Give this up,' they say: 'What, for such a trifling, insignificant thing as this? This ascetic is far too exacting!' And so they do not give it up, and they harbor resentment (appaccaya) toward me; and for those bhikkhus who are desirous of the training, that becomes a strong bond, a firm bond, a stout bond, an unrotting bond, a thick log.
Suppose, Udāyī, a hen-quail were bound with a binding of rotting creeper (pūtilatā), and right there she were to await slaughter, or captivity, or death. Now, Udāyī, if someone were to speak thus: 'That binding of rotting creeper by which the hen-quail is bound, awaiting right there slaughter, or captivity, or death — for her that is a feeble bond, a weak bond, a rotten bond, a coreless bond' — would he, speaking thus, be speaking rightly?"
"No, venerable sir. That binding of rotting creeper, venerable sir, by which the hen-quail is bound, awaiting right there slaughter, or captivity, or death — for her that is a strong bond, a firm bond, a stout bond, an unrotting bond, a thick log."
"Just so, Udāyī, when certain foolish persons here are told by me, 'Give this up,' they say: 'What, for such a trifling, insignificant thing as this? This ascetic is far too exacting!' And so they do not give it up, and they harbor resentment toward me; and for those bhikkhus who are desirous of the training, that becomes a strong bond, a firm bond, a stout bond, an unrotting bond, a thick log."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.