[247] Bhikkhus, just as a dyer or a painter, when there is dye or lac or turmeric or indigo or madder, would fashion the figure of a woman or the figure of a man, complete in all its limbs and features, on a well-polished board¹ or on a wall or on a strip of cloth — even so, bhikkhus, if there is lust (rāga), if there is delight (nandi), if there is craving (taṇhā) for the nutriment (āhāra) of edible food (kavaḷīkārāhāra), consciousness becomes established there and comes to growth. Where consciousness is established and has come to growth, there is the descent of name-and-form (nāmarūpa). Where there is the descent of name-and-form, there is the growth of volitional formations. Where there is the growth of volitional formations, there is the production of renewed existence in the future. Where there is the production of renewed existence in the future, there is future birth, aging, and death. Where there is future birth, aging, and death — that, bhikkhus, I say, is accompanied by sorrow, accompanied by dust, accompanied by despair.
If, bhikkhus, for the nutriment of contact (phassa) … if, bhikkhus, for the nutriment of mental volition (manosañcetanā) … if, bhikkhus, for the nutriment of consciousness there is lust, there is delight, there is craving, consciousness becomes established there and comes to growth. Where consciousness is established and has come to growth, there is the descent of name-and-form. Where there is the descent of name-and-form, there is the growth of volitional formations. Where there is the growth of volitional formations, there is the production of renewed existence in the future. Where there is the production of renewed existence in the future, there is future birth, aging, and death. Where there is future birth, aging, and death — that, bhikkhus, I say, is accompanied by sorrow, accompanied by dust, accompanied by despair.
¹ Footnote in Siam Raṭṭha edition: the M. (Burmese) and Yu. (European/PTS) editions read "suparimaṭṭhe vā" ("or on a very well-polished [surface]").
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.