[582] "Ānanda indeed, sir! Ānanda-like ('a joy') indeed he seems, sir! Venerable sir, what the venerable Ānanda says appears reasonable; what the venerable Ānanda says, moreover, is grounded in reason. But, venerable sir, does Brahmā exist?"
"But why, great king, do you ask thus: 'But, venerable sir, does Brahmā exist?'"
"Venerable sir, whether that Brahmā comes back to this state of existence (itthattaṃ), or does not come back to this state of existence."
"Great king, that Brahmā who is subject to affliction (sabyāpajjha) comes back to this state of existence; that Brahmā who is free from affliction does not come back to this state of existence."
Then a certain man said to King Pasenadi of Kosala: "Great king, Sañjaya the brahmin of the Ākāsa clan has come." Then King Pasenadi of Kosala said to Sañjaya the brahmin of the Ākāsa clan: "Who, brahmin, introduced this topic of discussion in the royal inner palace?"
"General Viḍūḍabha, great king."
General Viḍūḍabha said thus: "Sañjaya the brahmin of the Ākāsa clan, great king."
Then a certain man said to King Pasenadi of Kosala: "It is time for the carriage, great king."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.