[338] Bhikkhus, if kings or kings' chief ministers, friends or companions, relatives or kinsmen, should invite that bhikkhu — conducting himself thus, dwelling thus — to accept wealth, saying: "Come, good man! Why let these ochre robes torment you? Why wander about shaven-headed with a begging bowl? Come, having returned to the lower life, enjoy wealth and do meritorious deeds" — that that bhikkhu, conducting himself thus, dwelling thus, will give up the training and return to the lower life: this is impossible.
Suppose, bhikkhus, the river Gaṅgā slants toward the east, slopes toward the east, inclines toward the east, and then a great crowd of people should come, taking hoe and basket, saying: "We will make this river Gaṅgā slant toward the west, slope toward the west, incline toward the west." What do you think, bhikkhus: would that great crowd of people make the river Gaṅgā slant toward the west, slope toward the west, incline toward the west?
"No, venerable sir."
"For what reason?"
"Venerable sir, the river Gaṅgā slants toward the east, slopes toward the east, inclines toward the east; it is not easy to make it slant toward the west, slope toward the west, incline toward the west. That great crowd of people would only reap their share of fatigue and vexation."
Even so, bhikkhus, if kings or kings' chief ministers, friends or companions, relatives or kinsmen, should invite that bhikkhu — conducting himself thus, dwelling thus — to accept wealth, saying: "Come, good man! Why let these ochre robes torment you? Why wander about shaven-headed with a begging bowl? Come, having returned to the lower life, enjoy wealth and do meritorious deeds" — that that bhikkhu, conducting himself thus, dwelling thus, will indeed give up the training and return to the lower life: this is impossible. For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, that mind (citta) has for a long time slanted toward seclusion, sloped toward seclusion, inclined toward seclusion; that it will return to the lower life: this is impossible.
The seventh.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.