[603] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Nāḷandā, in Pāvārika's Mango Grove. Then Asibandhakaputta the headman (gāmaṇi) approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Asibandhakaputta the headman said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, does not the Blessed One dwell compassionate for the welfare of all living beings?"
"So it is, headman: the Tathāgata dwells compassionate for the welfare of all living beings."
"Then why, venerable sir, does the Blessed One teach the Dhamma with full care (sakkaccaṃ) to some, but not teach the Dhamma with such full care to others?"
"Well then, headman, I shall question you in return about this very point; you may answer it as seems fit to you. What do you think, headman? Suppose a farmer householder here had three fields: one field excellent, one field middling, and one field inferior — rough, saline, of bad soil. What do you think, headman? When that farmer householder wished to plant seeds, where would he plant them first: in that field which is excellent, in that field which is middling, or in that field which is inferior — rough, saline, of bad soil?"
"Venerable sir, that farmer householder, wishing to plant seeds, would plant them in that field which is excellent; having planted there, he would plant them in that field which is middling; having planted there, in that field which is inferior — rough, saline, of bad soil — he might plant them or he might not plant them. For what reason? Because at the very least it will serve as fodder for the cattle."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.