[438] Then the father of the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla, having learned of the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla's acceptance, went to his own residence. Having gone there, he had the ground smeared with fresh cow-dung and had a great heap of coined and uncoined gold (hiraññasuvaṇṇa) made — he had two heaps made, one of coined gold (hirañña) and one of uncoined gold (suvaṇṇa); the heaps were so great that a man standing on the near side could not see a man standing on the far side, and likewise a man standing on the far side could not see one standing on the near side. He had those heaps covered over with matting, had a seat prepared in the middle, and had it screened round with a curtain; then he addressed the former wives of the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla: "Come, daughters-in-law, adorn yourselves with those adornments wherewith you were formerly dear and pleasing to my son Raṭṭhapāla."
Then, when that night had passed, the father of the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla, having had excellent hard and soft food prepared in his own residence, announced the time to the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla: "It is time, dear Raṭṭhapāla; the meal is ready."
Then the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla, having dressed in the morning and taking his bowl and robe, went to his own father's residence; having gone there, he sat down on the seat prepared. Then the father of the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla had that heap of coined and uncoined gold uncovered and said this to the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla: "Dear Raṭṭhapāla, this wealth is your maternal portion; another is the paternal; another the grandpaternal. Dear Raṭṭhapāla, it is possible both to enjoy wealth and to make merit. Come, dear Raṭṭhapāla, resign the training, return to the lower life, enjoy wealth, and make merit."
"Householder, if you would do my bidding, you should have this heap of coined and uncoined gold loaded onto carts, carried away, and sunk in midstream in the current of the river Gaṅgā. Why is that? Because, householder, on account of it there will arise for you sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair."
Then the former wives of the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla, each clasping his feet, said this to the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla: "Of what kind, dear young master, are the nymphs (accharā) for whose sake you lead the holy life (brahmacariya)?"
"Sisters, we do not lead the holy life for the sake of nymphs."
Saying, "Our young master Raṭṭhapāla addresses us with the word 'sister'!", they fainted and fell right there.
Then the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla said this to his father: "Householder, if food is to be given, give it; do not trouble us."
"Eat, dear Raṭṭhapāla; the meal is ready."
Then the father of the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla with his own hand served and satisfied the Venerable Raṭṭhapāla with excellent hard and soft food.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.