[653] "But, Bhāradvāja, is there among the brahmins even a single brahmin who says thus: 'This I know, this I see: this alone is truth, anything else is futile'?"
"No indeed, worthy Gotama."
"But, Bhāradvāja, is there among the brahmins even a single teacher, or a single teacher's teacher, back through seven generations of teachers, who says thus: 'This I know, this I see: this alone is truth, anything else is futile'?"
"No indeed, worthy Gotama."
"But, Bhāradvāja, as for those ancient seers of the brahmins, the composers of the hymns (manta), the propagators of the hymns, whose ancient hymnal—chanted, proclaimed, and compiled—the brahmins of the present day chant after them and recite after them, reciting what was recited and repeating what was taught—namely, Aṭṭhaka, Vāmaka, Vāmadeva, Vessāmitta, Yamataggi, Aṅgīrasa, Bhāradvāja, Vāseṭṭha, Kassapa, and Bhagu—did even they say thus: 'This we know, this we see: this alone is truth, anything else is futile'?"
"No indeed, worthy Gotama."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.