[282] "Suppose, Māgaṇḍiya, there were a householder or a householder's son — rich, of great wealth, of great possessions — who, furnished and endowed with the five cords of sensual pleasure (kāmaguṇa), were to amuse himself with forms cognizable by the eye that are wished for, desired, agreeable, dear, connected with sensuality, provocative of lust; with sounds cognizable by the ear …; with odours cognizable by the nose …; with tastes cognizable by the tongue …; with tangibles cognizable by the body that are wished for, desired, agreeable, dear, connected with sensuality, provocative of lust. Having conducted himself well in body, having conducted himself well in speech, having conducted himself well in mind, with the breaking up of the body, after death, he might arise in a good destination, in a heavenly world, in companionship with the gods of the Thirty-three (Tāvatiṃsa). There, in the Nandana Grove, surrounded by a company of celestial nymphs, furnished and endowed with the five heavenly cords of sensual pleasure, he would amuse himself. He might see a householder or a householder's son furnished and endowed with the five cords of sensual pleasure, amusing himself. What do you think, Māgaṇḍiya — would that young god (devaputta), in the Nandana Grove, surrounded by a company of celestial nymphs, furnished and endowed with the five heavenly cords of sensual pleasure, amusing himself, envy that householder or that householder's son his five human cords of sensual pleasure, or would he be drawn back by human sensual pleasures?"
"No indeed, Master Gotama. Why is that? Because, Master Gotama, heavenly sensual pleasures are more excellent and more sublime than human sensual pleasures."
"Even so, Māgaṇḍiya, formerly, when I lived the household life, furnished and endowed with the five cords of sensual pleasure, I amused myself with forms cognizable by the eye that are wished for, desired, agreeable, dear, connected with sensuality, provocative of lust; with sounds cognizable by the ear …; with odours cognizable by the nose …; with tastes cognizable by the tongue …; with tangibles cognizable by the body that are wished for, desired, agreeable, dear, connected with sensuality, provocative of lust. Then, at a later time, having known as it really is (yathābhūta) the origin and the disappearance, the gratification, the danger, and the escape in the case of sensual pleasures, having abandoned craving for sensual pleasures (kāmataṇhā), having dispelled the fever of sensual pleasures, I dwell rid of thirst, with a mind (citta) inwardly stilled. I see other beings, not free from lust for sensual pleasures, being devoured by cravings for sensual pleasures, being burned by the fever of sensual pleasures, indulging in sensual pleasures; yet I do not envy them, nor do I delight therein. Why is that? Because, Māgaṇḍiya, there is a delight which, apart from sensual pleasures and apart from unwholesome states, stands having surpassed even heavenly pleasure; delighting with that delight, I do not envy what is inferior, nor do I delight therein."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.