[663] "But, brahmin, does the whole world authorize the brahmins thus: 'Let them prescribe these four kinds of service'?"
"No indeed, Master Gotama."
"Suppose, brahmin, there were a man — poor, without possessions of his own, destitute — and against his will they were to hang up for him a portion of meat, saying: 'Good man, this meat must be eaten by you, and the price must be paid.' Even so, brahmin, do the brahmins prescribe these four kinds of service without the consent of those ascetics and brahmins.
"I do not say, brahmin, that all should be served; nor do I say, brahmin, that none should be served. For if, when one is serving someone, because of that service one becomes worse and not better, I do not say that he should be served; but if, when one is serving someone, because of that service one becomes better and not worse, I say that he should be served.
"If, brahmin, they were to ask a khattiya (noble) thus: 'Which of these would you serve — one whom serving, because of that service, you would become worse and not better, or one whom serving, because of that service, you would become better and not worse?' — answering rightly, brahmin, a khattiya would answer thus: 'One whom serving, because of that service, I would become worse and not better — him I would not serve; but one whom serving, because of that service, I would become better and not worse — him I would serve.'
"If, brahmin, they were to ask a brahmin … a vessa (merchant) … a sudda (worker) thus: 'Which of these would you serve — one whom serving, because of that service, you would become worse and not better, or one whom serving, because of that service, you would become better and not worse?' — answering rightly, brahmin, even a sudda would answer thus: 'One whom serving, because of that service, I would become worse and not better — him I would not serve; but one whom serving, because of that service, I would become better and not worse — him I would serve.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.