[49] When this was said, the naked ascetic (acela) Kassapa said this to the Blessed One: "But we do not wish to ask Master Gotama very much."
"Ask, Kassapa, whatever you wish."
"How is it, Master Gotama — is suffering (dukkha) made by oneself?"
"Not so, Kassapa," the Blessed One said.
"Then, Master Gotama, is suffering made by another?"
"Not so, Kassapa," the Blessed One said.
"How is it, Master Gotama — is suffering made both by oneself and by another?"
"Not so, Kassapa," the Blessed One said.
"Then, Master Gotama, has suffering arisen fortuitously, being made neither by oneself nor by another?"
"Not so, Kassapa," the Blessed One said.
"How is it, Master Gotama — is there no suffering?"
"It is not that there is no suffering, Kassapa; there is suffering, Kassapa."
"Then Master Gotama neither knows nor sees suffering?"
"It is not that I do not know and do not see suffering, Kassapa. I know suffering, Kassapa; I see suffering, Kassapa."
"When asked, 'How is it, Master Gotama — is suffering made by oneself?' you say, 'Not so, Kassapa.' When asked, 'Then, Master Gotama, is suffering made by another?' you say, 'Not so, Kassapa.' When asked, 'How is it, Master Gotama — is suffering made both by oneself and by another?' you say, 'Not so, Kassapa.' When asked, 'Then, Master Gotama, has suffering arisen fortuitously, being made neither by oneself nor by another?' you say, 'Not so, Kassapa.' When asked, 'How is it, Master Gotama — is there no suffering?' you say, 'It is not that there is no suffering, Kassapa; there is suffering, Kassapa.' When asked, 'Then Master Gotama neither knows nor sees suffering?' you say, 'It is not that I do not know and do not see suffering, Kassapa. I know suffering, Kassapa; I see suffering, Kassapa.' Venerable sir, let the Blessed One declare suffering to me; venerable sir, let the Blessed One teach me suffering."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.