[598] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Nāḷandā, in Pāvārika's Mango Grove. Then Asibandhakaputta the headman approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Asibandhakaputta the headman said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, the brahmins of the western lands (pacchābhūmakā) — those who carry water pots, wear garlands of water plants, go down into the water, and tend the sacred fire — they, it is said, raise up one who has died and passed away, they instruct him, they usher him into heaven. But, venerable sir, is the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One (arahaṃ sammāsambuddho), able to act in such a way that the entire world, with the breakup of the body, after death, might be reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world?"
"Well then, headman, I shall question you in return about this very matter. You should answer it as seems fitting to you. What do you think, headman? Suppose there were a man here who kills living beings, takes what is not given, engages in sexual misconduct, speaks falsely, speaks divisively, speaks harshly, engages in idle chatter, is covetous, has a mind of ill will, and holds wrong view. Then a great crowd of people, having gathered and assembled, would pray over him, extol him, and, with joined palms, walk in circumambulation around him, saying: 'May this man, with the breakup of the body, after death, be reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world!' What do you think, headman? Would that man — on account of the praying of that great crowd of people, or on account of their extolling, or on account of their circumambulating him with joined palms — with the breakup of the body, after death, be reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world?"
"Surely not, venerable sir."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.