[771] "Friend Ānanda, what is the cause, what is the reason, why, when the Tathāgata has attained final Nibbāna (parinibbuta), the true Dhamma (saddhamma) does not endure long? And what, friend Ānanda, is the cause, what is the reason, why, when the Tathāgata has attained final Nibbāna, the true Dhamma endures long?"
"Good, good, friend Bhadda! Excellent, friend Bhadda, is your approach (ummagga), excellent your ingenuity (paṭibhāṇa), good your inquiry. For thus you ask, friend Bhadda: 'Friend Ānanda, what is the cause, what is the reason, why, when the Tathāgata has attained final Nibbāna, the true Dhamma does not endure long? And what, friend Ānanda, is the cause, what is the reason, why, when the Tathāgata has attained final Nibbāna, the true Dhamma endures long?'"
"Even so, friend."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.