[579] "Venerable sir, the Blessed One speaks what is reasoned (hetu-rūpaṃ); the Blessed One speaks what is accompanied by reasons (sahetu-rūpaṃ). Venerable sir, there are these four classes (vaṇṇa): khattiyas, brāhmaṇas, vessas, and suddas. If those four classes were endowed with these five factors of striving (padhāniyaṅga), and if their striving were right striving (sammappadhāna), would there be in this case, venerable sir, any distinction among them, any difference?"
"Great king, in this case I declare no difference whatever among them, that is, liberation (vimutti) compared with liberation. Suppose, great king, a man were to take dry sāla-wood, kindle a fire, and make heat appear. Then another man were to take dry mango-wood, kindle a fire, and make heat appear. And then another man were to take dry udumbara-wood, kindle a fire, and make heat appear. What do you think, great king: would there be any difference among those fires kindled from different kinds of wood — flame compared with flame, colour with colour, or radiance with radiance?"
"No indeed, venerable sir."
"Even so, great king, as to that fire which is churned out by energy (vīriya) and kindled by striving, I declare no difference whatever therein, that is, liberation compared with liberation."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.