[427] When this was said, the mother and father of Raṭṭhapāla the clansman said to Raṭṭhapāla the clansman: "Dear Raṭṭhapāla, you are our only son, dear and beloved, raised in comfort, brought up in comfort. Dear Raṭṭhapāla, you know nothing of suffering (dukkha). Come, dear Raṭṭhapāla—eat, drink, and amuse yourself. Eating, drinking, and amusing yourself, enjoying sensual pleasures and making merit (puñña), take your delight. We do not permit you to go forth from the home life into homelessness. Even at your death we shall be parted from you against our wishes; how then could we permit you, while you are still living, to go forth from the home life into homelessness?"
For a second time … For a third time Raṭṭhapāla the clansman said to his mother and father: "Mother, Father, as I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, it is not easy, while dwelling in a house, to live the holy life (brahmacariya) that is utterly perfect, utterly pure, polished like a shell. I wish to shave off my hair and beard, clothe myself in the ochre robes, and go forth (pabbajjā) from the home life into homelessness. Permit me to go forth from the home life into homelessness."
For a third time the mother and father of Raṭṭhapāla the clansman said to Raṭṭhapāla the clansman: "Dear Raṭṭhapāla, you are our only son, dear and beloved, raised in comfort, brought up in comfort. Dear Raṭṭhapāla, you know nothing of suffering. Come, dear Raṭṭhapāla—eat, drink, and amuse yourself. Eating, drinking, and amusing yourself, enjoying sensual pleasures and making merit, take your delight. We do not permit you to go forth from the home life into homelessness. Even at your death we shall be parted from you against our wishes; how then could we permit you, while you are still living, to go forth from the home life into homelessness?"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.