[700] "What do you think, Dhanañjāni: which is better — hell (niraya) or the animal womb (tiracchānayoni)?"
"The animal womb is better than hell, worthy Sāriputta."
"What do you think, Dhanañjāni: which is better — the animal womb or the realm of ghosts (pittivisaya)?"
"The realm of ghosts is better than the animal womb, worthy Sāriputta."
"What do you think, Dhanañjāni: which is better — the realm of ghosts or human beings?"
"Human beings are better than the realm of ghosts, worthy Sāriputta."
"What do you think, Dhanañjāni: which is better — human beings or the Cātummahārājikā devas?"
"The Cātummahārājikā devas are better than human beings, worthy Sāriputta."
"What do you think, Dhanañjāni: which is better — the Cātummahārājikā devas or the Tāvatiṃsa devas?"
"The Tāvatiṃsa devas are better than the Cātummahārājikā devas, worthy Sāriputta."
"What do you think, Dhanañjāni: which is better — the Tāvatiṃsa devas or the Yāmā devas?"
"The Yāmā devas are better than the Tāvatiṃsa devas, worthy Sāriputta."
"What do you think, Dhanañjāni: which is better — the Yāmā devas or the Tusitā devas?"
"The Tusitā devas are better than the Yāmā devas, worthy Sāriputta."
"What do you think, Dhanañjāni: which is better — the Tusitā devas or the Nimmānaratī devas?"
"The Nimmānaratī devas are better than the Tusitā devas, worthy Sāriputta."
"What do you think, Dhanañjāni: which is better — the Nimmānaratī devas or the Paranimmitavasavattī devas?"
"The Paranimmitavasavattī devas are better than the Nimmānaratī devas, worthy Sāriputta."
"What do you think, Dhanañjāni: which is better — the Paranimmitavasavattī devas or the Brahmā world (brahmaloka)?"
"The worthy Sāriputta says 'the Brahmā world'! The worthy Sāriputta says 'the Brahmā world'!"
Then it occurred to the Venerable Sāriputta: "These brahmins are devoted to the Brahmā world. Suppose I were to teach the brahmin Dhanañjāni the path to companionship with the Brahmās."
"Dhanañjāni, I shall teach you the path to companionship with the Brahmās. Listen to it and attend well; I shall speak."
"So be it, worthy sir," the brahmin Dhanañjāni assented to the Venerable Sāriputta.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.