[584] When this was said, the friends and companions, relatives and kinsmen of Citta the householder said this to Citta the householder: "Establish mindfulness, young master; do not babble."
"What have I said, that you speak to me thus: 'Establish mindfulness, young master; do not babble'?"
"Young master, you spoke thus: 'That too is impermanent, that too is unstable; that too must be abandoned as one departs.'"
"That is indeed so; for the park deities (devatā), the grove deities, the tree deities, and the deities dwelling in medicinal herbs, grasses, and lords of the forest said to me thus: 'Make an aspiration, householder: "In the future may I be a wheel-turning monarch (cakkavattī)."' And I said to them: 'That too is impermanent … that too must be abandoned as one departs.'"
"But, young master, what advantage did those park deities, grove deities, tree deities, and deities dwelling in medicinal herbs, grasses, and lords of the forest see, that they said thus: 'Make an aspiration, householder: "In the future may I be a wheel-turning monarch"'?"
"It occurred to those park deities, grove deities, tree deities, and deities dwelling in medicinal herbs, grasses, and lords of the forest thus: 'This Citta the householder is virtuous, of good character. If he should make the aspiration, "In the future may I be a wheel-turning monarch," then this aspiration of heart of one so virtuous will succeed because of the purity of his virtue. Being righteous, he will bestow righteous power.' It is these park deities, grove deities, tree deities, and deities dwelling in medicinal herbs, grasses, and lords of the forest who, seeing this advantage, said thus: 'Make an aspiration, householder: "In the future may I be a wheel-turning monarch."' And I said to them: 'That too is impermanent, that too is unstable; that too must be abandoned as one departs.'"
"Well then, young master, advise us also."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.