[622] "What do you think, Assalāyana? Suppose a king here, a khattiya anointed on the head, were to assemble a hundred men of various births and say: 'Come, sirs! Let those among you who were born in khattiya families, brahmin families, or royal families take an upper fire-stick (uttarāraṇi) of teak, sāla, salaḷa, sandalwood, or padumaka (bird cherry) wood, kindle a fire, and make heat appear. And come, sirs! Let those among you who were born in caṇḍāla families, hunter families, bamboo-worker families, chariot-maker families, or scavenger families take an upper fire-stick from a dog's trough, a pig's trough, a washerman's trough, or from castor-oil wood, kindle a fire, and make heat appear.'
"What do you think, Assalāyana? Would only the fire kindled and the heat made to appear by those born in khattiya families, brahmin families, or royal families, having taken an upper fire-stick of teak, sāla, salaḷa, sandalwood, or padumaka wood — would only that fire possess flame, possess colour, and possess radiance, and would it be possible with that fire to do what is to be done with fire; whereas the fire kindled and the heat made to appear by those born in caṇḍāla families, hunter families, bamboo-worker families, chariot-maker families, or scavenger families, having taken an upper fire-stick from a dog's trough, a pig's trough, a washerman's trough, or from castor-oil wood — would that fire possess no flame, no colour, and no radiance, and would it be impossible with that fire to do what is to be done with fire?"
"Not so, worthy Gotama. Worthy Gotama, the fire kindled and the heat made to appear by those born in khattiya families, brahmin families, or royal families, having taken an upper fire-stick of teak, sāla, salaḷa, sandalwood, or padumaka wood — that fire would possess flame, possess colour, and possess radiance, and it would be possible with that fire to do what is to be done with fire. And the fire kindled and the heat made to appear by those born in caṇḍāla families, hunter families, bamboo-worker families, chariot-maker families, or scavenger families, having taken an upper fire-stick from a dog's trough, a pig's trough, a washerman's trough, or from castor-oil wood — that fire too would possess flame, possess colour, and possess radiance, and with it too it would be possible to do what is to be done with fire. For indeed, worthy Gotama, all fire possesses flame, possesses colour, and possesses radiance, and with all fire it is possible to do what is to be done with fire."
"Then here, Assalāyana, what is the strength of the brahmins, what is their assurance, that in this matter the brahmins say thus: 'Only brahmins are the highest class (vaṇṇa); other classes are inferior. Only brahmins are the fair class; other classes are dark. Only brahmins are purified, not non-brahmins. Only brahmins are sons of Brahmā, born of his breast, born from his mouth, born of Brahmā, created by Brahmā, heirs of Brahmā'?"
"Although the worthy Gotama says this, nevertheless in this matter the brahmins still think thus: 'Only brahmins are the highest class; other classes are inferior … heirs of Brahmā.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.