[669] "That noble disciple, headman — thus rid of covetousness, rid of ill will, unconfused, clearly comprehending, ever mindful — dwells pervading one quarter with a mind imbued with loving-kindness (mettā); likewise the second; likewise the third; likewise the fourth. Thus above, below, across, everywhere, and 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 and such a view: "For one who acts and who makes others act, who mutilates and who makes others mutilate, who torments and who makes others torment, who inflicts sorrow and who makes others inflict sorrow, who oppresses and who makes others oppress, who makes tremble and who makes others cause trembling, who destroys life, takes what is not given, breaks into houses, carries off plunder, commits burglary in a single house, waylays travellers on the road, goes to another's wife, speaks falsehood — evil is done by the one who acts. Even if, with a razor-rimmed wheel, one were to make the living beings on this earth into one mass of flesh, one heap of flesh, there is evil on that account, there is an outcome of evil. Even if one were to go along the south bank of the Ganges killing and slaughtering, mutilating and making others mutilate, torturing and making others torture, there is evil on that account, there is an outcome 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 is merit on that account, there is an outcome of merit. By giving, by self-taming, by restraint, by speaking truth, there is merit, there is an outcome of merit." If the word of that honourable teacher is true, still it is incontrovertible for me — I who do not oppress anyone, whether frail or firm — that in both respects I have made the winning throw: in that I am restrained in body, restrained in speech, restrained in mind; and in that, with the breakup 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 gladdened, rapture is born; for one whose mind is filled with rapture, the body becomes tranquil; one tranquil in body feels pleasure; for one who is happy, the mind (citta) becomes concentrated. This, headman, is dhamma-concentration (dhammasamādhi). If you were to obtain concentration of mind (cittasamādhi) therein, in this way you might abandon that state of perplexity."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.