[509] "Prince, this thought occurred to me: 'This Dhamma that I have attained is deep, hard to see, hard to understand, peaceful, sublime, beyond the sphere of reasoning, subtle, to be experienced by the wise. But this generation delights in attachment (ālaya), is devoted to attachment, rejoices in attachment. For a generation that delights in attachment, is devoted to attachment, and rejoices in attachment, this state is hard to see, namely, specific conditionality (idappaccayatā), dependent origination (paṭiccasamuppāda). This state too is hard to see, namely, the stilling of all volitional formations (saṅkhārā), the relinquishment of all acquisitions (upadhi), the destruction of craving (taṇhā), dispassion, cessation (nirodha), Nibbāna. And if I were to teach the Dhamma and others were not to understand me, that would be weariness for me, that would be vexation for me.' And then, Prince, these spontaneous verses (anacchariyā gāthā), never heard before, occurred to me:
'What I have attained with difficulty—
enough now with proclaiming it!
This Dhamma is not easily awakened to
by those overcome by lust (rāga) and hatred.
Going against the stream, subtle,
deep, hard to see, minute—
those dyed with lust will not see it,
enveloped as they are by a mass of darkness.'
As I reflected thus, Prince, my mind (citta) inclined to living at ease, not to teaching the Dhamma."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.