[184] Then the brahmin Jāṇussoṇi approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One, and when the courteous and memorable talk was concluded, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the brahmin Jāṇussoṇi said this to the Blessed One: "Master Gotama, we are of such a doctrine, of such a view: 'There is no one who, being subject to death, does not fear death, does not come to terror of death.'"
"There is, brahmin, one who, being subject to death, fears death and comes to terror of death; and there is, brahmin, one who, being subject to death, does not fear death and does not come to terror of death. And who, brahmin, being subject to death, fears death and comes to terror of death? Here, brahmin, someone is not devoid of lust for sensual pleasures, not devoid of desire, not devoid of affection, not devoid of thirst, not devoid of fever, not devoid of craving (taṇhā). Then a certain grave and severe illness afflicts him. Afflicted by that grave and severe illness, he thinks thus: 'Alas, the beloved sensual pleasures will leave me, and I shall leave the beloved sensual pleasures.' He sorrows, is wearied, laments, beats his breast and wails, and falls into confusion. This one, brahmin, being subject to death, fears death and comes to terror of death.
"Furthermore, brahmin, here someone is not devoid of lust for the body, not devoid of desire, not devoid of affection, not devoid of thirst, not devoid of fever, not devoid of craving. Then a certain grave and severe illness afflicts him. Afflicted by that grave and severe illness, he thinks thus: 'Alas, the beloved body will leave me, and I shall leave the beloved body.' He sorrows, is wearied, laments, beats his breast and wails, and falls into confusion. This one too, brahmin, being subject to death, fears death and comes to terror of death.
"Furthermore, brahmin, here someone has not done what is good, has not done what is wholesome, has not made a shelter against fear; he has done what is evil, done what is cruel, done what is wicked. Then a certain grave and severe illness afflicts him. Afflicted by that grave and severe illness, he thinks thus: 'Alas, I have not done what is good, I have not done what is wholesome, I have not made a shelter against fear; I have done what is evil, done what is cruel, done what is wicked. Sirs, whatever the destination of those who have not done what is good, have not done what is wholesome, have not made a shelter against fear, who have done what is evil, done what is cruel, done what is wicked — to that destination I go when I pass on.' He sorrows, is wearied, laments, beats his breast and wails, and falls into confusion. This one too, brahmin, being subject to death, fears death and comes to terror of death.
"Furthermore, brahmin, here someone is perplexed and doubting, not having reached certainty in the true Dhamma (saddhamma). Then a certain grave and severe illness afflicts him. Afflicted by that grave and severe illness, he thinks thus: 'Alas, I am perplexed and doubting, not having reached certainty in the true Dhamma.' He sorrows, is wearied, laments, beats his breast and wails, and falls into confusion. This one too, brahmin, being subject to death, fears death and comes to terror of death. These four, brahmin, being subject to death, fear death and come to terror of death.
"And who, brahmin, being subject to death, does not fear death and does not come to terror of death? Here, brahmin, someone is devoid of lust for sensual pleasures, devoid of desire, devoid of affection, devoid of thirst, devoid of fever, devoid of craving. Then a certain grave and severe illness afflicts him. Afflicted by that grave and severe illness, he does not think thus: 'Alas, the beloved sensual pleasures will leave me, and I shall leave the beloved sensual pleasures.' He does not sorrow, is not wearied, does not lament, does not beat his breast and wail, and does not fall into confusion. This one, brahmin, being subject to death, does not fear death and does not come to terror of death.
"Furthermore, brahmin, here someone is devoid of lust for the body, devoid of desire, devoid of affection, devoid of thirst, devoid of fever, devoid of craving. Then a certain grave and severe illness afflicts him. Afflicted by that grave and severe illness, he does not think thus: 'Alas, the beloved body will leave me, and I shall leave the beloved body.' He does not sorrow, is not wearied, does not lament, does not beat his breast and wail, and does not fall into confusion. This one too, brahmin, being subject to death, does not fear death and does not come to terror of death.
"Furthermore, brahmin, here someone has not done what is evil, has not done what is cruel, has not done what is wicked; he has done what is good, done what is wholesome, made a shelter against fear. Then a certain grave and severe illness afflicts him. Afflicted by that grave and severe illness, he thinks thus: 'I have not done what is evil, I have not done what is cruel, I have not done what is wicked; I have done what is good, done what is wholesome, made a shelter against fear. Sirs, whatever the destination of those who have not done what is evil, have not done what is cruel, have not done what is wicked, who have done what is good, done what is wholesome, made a shelter against fear — to that destination I go when I pass on.' He does not sorrow, is not wearied, does not lament, does not beat his breast and wail, and does not fall into confusion. This one too, brahmin, being subject to death, does not fear death and does not come to terror of death.
"Furthermore, brahmin, here someone is without perplexity, without doubt, having reached certainty in the true Dhamma. Then a certain grave and severe illness afflicts him. Afflicted by that grave and severe illness, he thinks thus: 'I am without perplexity, without doubt, having reached certainty in the true Dhamma.' He does not sorrow, is not wearied, does not lament, does not beat his breast and wail, and does not fall into confusion. This one too, brahmin, being subject to death, does not fear death and does not come to terror of death. These four, brahmin, being subject to death, do not fear death and do not come to terror of death."
"Excellent, Master Gotama! … Let Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who, from this day forward, has gone for refuge for as long as life lasts."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.