[504] "Prince (rājakumāra), this thought occurred to me: 'Whatever ascetics or brahmins in the past have experienced painful (dukkha), racking, piercing feelings (vedanā) arising from exertion, this is the utmost; there is none beyond this. Whatever ascetics or brahmins in the future will experience painful, racking, piercing feelings arising from exertion, this is the utmost; there will be none beyond this. Whatever ascetics or brahmins at present experience painful, racking, piercing feelings arising from exertion, this is the utmost; there is none beyond this. Yet by this piercing practice of austerities I do not attain any distinction in knowledge and vision (ñāṇa) worthy of the noble ones, surpassing the human state. Could there be another path (magga) to awakening?'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.