[580] "Venerable sir, the Blessed One has spoken what is reasonable (hetu-rūpaṃ); indeed, venerable sir, the Blessed One has spoken what is accompanied by reasons (sahetu-rūpaṃ). But, venerable sir, do the gods (devā) exist?"
"But why, great king, do you speak thus: 'But, venerable sir, do the gods exist?'"
"Venerable sir, whether those gods are ones who come back to this state of existence (itthatta), or whether they are ones who do not come back to this state of existence."
"Great king, those gods who are subject to affliction (sabyāpajjhā) are ones who come back to this state of existence; those gods who are free from affliction (abyāpajjhā) are ones who do not come back to this state of existence."
[Editorial footnotes of the Siam Raṭṭha edition:
1. The European (Yu.) edition here reads "sukkhaṃ sākakaṭṭhaṃ ... aparo puriso" (a variant in the preceding fire-simile passage).
2. In the European (Yu.) edition the word "ca" is absent.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.