[113] Bhikkhus, these four fine thoroughbred horses are found existing in the world. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, a certain fine thoroughbred horse, on merely seeing the shadow of the goad, is stirred and acquires a sense of urgency (saṃvega), thinking: 'What task will the trainer of tamable horses set me today? What response shall I make to him?' Bhikkhus, some fine thoroughbred horse here is of such a kind. This, bhikkhus, is the first fine thoroughbred horse found existing in the world.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, here a certain fine thoroughbred horse is not stirred and does not acquire a sense of urgency on seeing the shadow of the goad; but when pierced by the goad to the hair of its coat, it is stirred and acquires a sense of urgency, thinking: 'What task will the trainer of tamable horses set me today? What response shall I make to him?' Bhikkhus, some fine thoroughbred horse here is of such a kind. This, bhikkhus, is the second fine thoroughbred horse found existing in the world.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, here a certain fine thoroughbred horse is not stirred and does not acquire a sense of urgency on seeing the shadow of the goad, nor when pierced by the goad to the hair of its coat; but when pierced by the goad to the hide, it is stirred and acquires a sense of urgency, thinking: 'What task will the trainer of tamable horses set me today? What response shall I make to him?' Bhikkhus, some fine thoroughbred horse here is of such a kind. This, bhikkhus, is the third fine thoroughbred horse found existing in the world.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, here a certain fine thoroughbred horse is not stirred and does not acquire a sense of urgency on seeing the shadow of the goad, nor when pierced by the goad to the hair of its coat, nor when pierced by the goad to the hide; but when pierced by the goad to the bone, it is stirred and acquires a sense of urgency, thinking: 'What task will the trainer of tamable horses set me today? What response shall I make to him?' Bhikkhus, some fine thoroughbred horse here is of such a kind. This, bhikkhus, is the fourth fine thoroughbred horse found existing in the world. These, bhikkhus, are the four fine thoroughbred horses found existing in the world.
In just the same way, bhikkhus, these four fine thoroughbred persons are found existing in the world. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, a certain fine thoroughbred person hears: 'In such-and-such a village or town a woman or a man has fallen into suffering or has died.' By that he is stirred and acquires a sense of urgency; stirred, he strives carefully; with resolute mind he realizes the supreme truth with the body, and, having penetrated it with wisdom, he sees it. Just as, bhikkhus, that fine thoroughbred horse, on seeing the shadow of the goad, is stirred and acquires a sense of urgency, even so, bhikkhus, I declare this fine thoroughbred person to be its counterpart. Bhikkhus, some fine thoroughbred person here is of such a kind. This, bhikkhus, is the first fine thoroughbred person found existing in the world.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, here a certain fine thoroughbred person does not hear: 'In such-and-such a village or town a woman or a man has fallen into suffering or has died'; but he himself sees a woman or a man fallen into suffering or dead. By that he is stirred and acquires a sense of urgency; stirred, he strives carefully; with resolute mind he realizes the supreme truth with the body, and, having penetrated it with wisdom, he sees it. Just as, bhikkhus, that fine thoroughbred horse is stirred and acquires a sense of urgency when pierced by the goad to the hair of its coat, even so, bhikkhus, I declare this fine thoroughbred person to be its counterpart. Bhikkhus, some fine thoroughbred person here is of such a kind. This, bhikkhus, is the second fine thoroughbred person found existing in the world.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, here a certain fine thoroughbred person does not hear: 'In such-and-such a village or town a woman or a man has fallen into suffering or has died'; nor does he himself see a woman or a man fallen into suffering or dead; but a relative or blood-relation of his has fallen into suffering or has died. By that he is stirred and acquires a sense of urgency; stirred, he strives carefully; with resolute mind he realizes the supreme truth with the body, and, having penetrated it with wisdom, he sees it. Just as, bhikkhus, that fine thoroughbred horse is stirred and acquires a sense of urgency when pierced by the goad to the hide, even so, bhikkhus, I declare this fine thoroughbred person to be its counterpart. Bhikkhus, some fine thoroughbred person here is of such a kind. This, bhikkhus, is the third fine thoroughbred person found existing in the world.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, here a certain fine thoroughbred person does not hear: 'In such-and-such a village or town a woman or a man has fallen into suffering or has died'; nor does he himself see a woman or a man fallen into suffering or dead; nor has a relative or blood-relation of his fallen into suffering or died; but he himself is touched by bodily feelings (vedanā) that are painful, sharp, harsh, bitter, disagreeable, displeasing, sapping the life. By that he is stirred and acquires a sense of urgency; stirred, he strives carefully; with resolute mind he realizes the supreme truth with the body, and, having penetrated it with wisdom, he sees it. Just as, bhikkhus, that fine thoroughbred horse is stirred and acquires a sense of urgency when pierced by the goad to the bone, even so, bhikkhus, I declare this fine thoroughbred person to be its counterpart. Bhikkhus, some fine thoroughbred person here is of such a kind. This, bhikkhus, is the fourth fine thoroughbred person found existing in the world. These, bhikkhus, are the four fine thoroughbred persons found existing in the world.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.