[619] "What do you think, Assalāyana? Is it only a brahmin who — refraining from killing living beings, refraining from taking what is not given, refraining from sexual misconduct, refraining from false speech, refraining from divisive speech, refraining from harsh speech, refraining from idle chatter, being without covetousness, having a mind free from ill will, holding right view — with the breakup of the body, after death, would be reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world; and not a khattiya, not a vessa, not a sudda?"
"Not so, worthy Gotama. A khattiya too, worthy Gotama, refraining from killing living beings, refraining from taking what is not given, refraining from sexual misconduct, refraining from false speech, refraining from divisive speech, refraining from harsh speech, refraining from idle chatter, being without covetousness, having a mind free from ill will, holding right view, with the breakup of the body, after death, would be reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world. A brahmin too, worthy Gotama … a vessa too, worthy Gotama … a sudda too, worthy Gotama … Indeed, worthy Gotama, all four classes (vaṇṇa) — refraining from killing living beings, refraining from taking what is not given, refraining from sexual misconduct, refraining from false speech, refraining from divisive speech, refraining from harsh speech, refraining from idle chatter, being without covetousness, having minds free from ill will, holding right view — with the breakup of the body, after death, would be reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world."
"Then, Assalāyana, what strength do the brahmins have in this matter, what assurance, that they say here: 'Only brahmins are the best class; the other class is inferior … heirs of Brahmā'?"
"Even though the worthy Gotama says this, still in this matter the brahmins think thus: 'Only brahmins are the best class; the other class is inferior … heirs of Brahmā.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.