[256] "Let the worthy Gotama be set aside; let the bhikkhus be set aside; let the bhikkhunīs be set aside. But is there even one layman disciple of the worthy Gotama—a householder clothed in white, living the holy life (sabrahmacārī)—who, with the destruction of the five lower fetters (orambhāgiyāni saṃyojanāni), is of spontaneous rebirth (opapātika), due to attain final Nibbāna there, not subject to returning from that world?"
"Vaccha, not merely one hundred, nor two hundred, nor three hundred, nor four hundred, nor five hundred, but far more indeed are those laymen, my disciples—householders clothed in white, living the holy life—who, with the destruction of the five lower fetters, are of spontaneous rebirth, due to attain final Nibbāna there, not subject to returning from that world."
"Let the worthy Gotama be set aside; let the bhikkhus be set aside; let the bhikkhunīs be set aside; let the laymen, householders clothed in white, living the holy life, be set aside. But is there even one layman disciple of the worthy Gotama—a householder clothed in white, enjoying sensual pleasures, one who carries out the teaching, who complies with the instruction—who has crossed beyond doubt (vicikicchā), is rid of uncertainty, has attained self-assurance, and dwells independent of others in the Teacher's dispensation?"
"Vaccha, not merely one hundred, nor two hundred, nor three hundred, nor four hundred, nor five hundred, but far more indeed are those laymen, my disciples—householders clothed in white, enjoying sensual pleasures, who carry out the teaching, who comply with the instruction—who have crossed beyond doubt, are rid of uncertainty, have attained self-assurance, and dwell independent of others in the Teacher's dispensation."
"Let the worthy Gotama be set aside; let the bhikkhus be set aside; let the bhikkhunīs be set aside; let the laymen, householders clothed in white, living the holy life, be set aside; let the laymen, householders clothed in white, enjoying sensual pleasures, be set aside. But is there even one laywoman disciple of the worthy Gotama—a householder clothed in white, living the holy life—who, with the destruction of the five lower fetters, is of spontaneous rebirth, due to attain final Nibbāna there, not subject to returning from that world?"
"Vaccha, not merely one hundred, nor two hundred, nor three hundred, nor four hundred, nor five hundred, but far more indeed are those laywomen, my disciples—householders clothed in white, living the holy life—who, with the destruction of the five lower fetters, are of spontaneous rebirth, due to attain final Nibbāna there, not subject to returning from that world."
"Let the worthy Gotama be set aside; let the bhikkhus be set aside; let the bhikkhunīs be set aside; let the laymen, householders clothed in white, living the holy life, be set aside; let the laymen, householders clothed in white, enjoying sensual pleasures, be set aside; let the laywomen, householders clothed in white, living the holy life, be set aside. But is there even one laywoman disciple of the worthy Gotama—a householder clothed in white, enjoying sensual pleasures, one who carries out the teaching, who complies with the instruction—who has crossed beyond doubt, is rid of uncertainty, has attained self-assurance, and dwells independent of others in the Teacher's dispensation?"
"Vaccha, not merely one hundred, nor two hundred, nor three hundred, nor four hundred, nor five hundred, but far more indeed are those laywomen, my disciples—householders clothed in white, enjoying sensual pleasures, who carry out the teaching, who comply with the instruction—who have crossed beyond doubt, are rid of uncertainty, have attained self-assurance, and dwell independent of others in the Teacher's dispensation."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.