[401] "Kaccāna, those ascetics and brahmins who, not knowing the first end (pubbanta), not knowing the final end (aparanta), claim: 'We understand: "Birth (jāti) is destroyed, the holy life (brahmacariya) has been lived, what was to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this state of being"' — for them there is this very refutation in accordance with the Dhamma. And yet, Kaccāna, let the first end stand, let the final end stand. Let a wise person come — one who is not fraudulent, not deceitful, of upright nature; I shall instruct him, I shall teach him the Dhamma. Practicing as he is instructed, before long he will know for himself, he will see for himself: 'Thus, it seems, this venerable one is released from the bond — that is, from the bond of ignorance (avijjā).'
"Kaccāna, suppose there were a young, tender infant lying on his back, bound with five bonds of thread, the neck being the fifth. Following his growth, following the maturing of his faculties (indriya), those bonds would be loosened. He would know, 'I am free,' and there would be no bond. Even so, Kaccāna, let a wise person come — one who is not fraudulent, not deceitful, of upright nature; I shall instruct him, I shall teach him the Dhamma. Practicing as he is instructed, before long he will know for himself, he will see for himself: 'Thus, it seems, this venerable one is released from the bond — that is, from the bond of ignorance.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.