[694] "What do you think, Dhanañjāni? One who, for the sake of the king, should behave contrary to the Dhamma, behave unrighteously — or one who, for the sake of the king, should behave in accordance with the Dhamma, behave righteously: which is better?"
"Worthy Sāriputta, one who, for the sake of the king, should behave contrary to the Dhamma, behave unrighteously — that is not better; but one who, for the sake of the king, should behave in accordance with the Dhamma, behave righteously — that alone here is better. For, worthy Sāriputta, conduct in accordance with the Dhamma and righteous conduct are better than conduct contrary to the Dhamma and unrighteous conduct."
"There are, Dhanañjāni, other kinds of work, having a [legitimate] source (sahetukā) and in accordance with the Dhamma, by means of which one can both perform the king's duty, and not do evil deeds, and practise the meritorious way of practice."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.