[668] "That noble disciple, headman, thus rid of covetousness, rid of ill will (byāpāda), unconfused, clearly comprehending, ever mindful, dwells pervading one direction with a mind imbued with loving-kindness (mettā); likewise the second; likewise the third; likewise the fourth. Thus above, below, across, everywhere, to all as to himself, he dwells pervading the entire world with a mind imbued with loving-kindness — abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without enmity, without ill will.
He reflects thus: 'This teacher holds such a doctrine, such a view: "For one who acts and makes others act, who mutilates and makes others mutilate, who torments and makes others torment, who inflicts sorrow and makes others inflict sorrow, who oppresses and makes others oppress, who makes tremble and makes others cause trembling; who destroys living beings, takes what is not given, breaks into houses, carries off plunder, commits burglary, lies in wait on the highway, goes to another's wife, speaks falsehood — no evil is done by the one who acts. Even if, with a razor-rimmed wheel, one were to reduce the living beings of this earth to a single mass of flesh, a single heap of flesh, there would be no evil from that cause, no coming of evil. Even if one were to go along the south bank of the Ganges killing and slaughtering, mutilating and making others mutilate, tormenting and making others torment, there would be no evil from that cause, no coming of evil. Even if one were to go along the north bank of the Ganges giving and making others give, sacrificing and making others sacrifice, there would be no merit from that cause, no coming of merit. Through giving, through self-taming, through restraint, through speaking truth, there is no merit, no coming of merit." If the word of that honored teacher is true, still it is incontrovertible for me that I harm no one, whether frail or firm; in both respects here the lucky throw is mine: in that I am restrained in body, restrained in speech, restrained in mind; and in that, with the breaking up of the body, after death, I shall be reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world.'
Gladness is born in him; in one who is glad, rapture (pīti) is born; when the mind is filled with rapture, the body becomes tranquil; one whose body is tranquil feels pleasure; the mind (citta) of one who is happy becomes concentrated. This, headman, is concentration of Dhamma (dhammasamādhi). If therein you should obtain concentration of mind (cittasamādhi), in this way you might abandon this state of doubt."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.