[324] Then a certain brahmin 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. Seated to one side, that brahmin said to the Blessed One: "Is there, Master Gotama, one thing which, when developed and cultivated, stands having secured both kinds of welfare — the welfare pertaining to the present life and the welfare pertaining to the life to come?"
"There is, brahmin, one thing which, when developed and cultivated, stands having secured both kinds of welfare — the welfare pertaining to the present life and the welfare pertaining to the life to come."
"But what, Master Gotama, is the one thing which, when developed and cultivated, stands having secured both kinds of welfare — the welfare pertaining to the present life and the welfare pertaining to the life to come?"
"Heedfulness (appamāda), brahmin, is the one thing which, when developed and cultivated, stands having secured both kinds of welfare — the welfare pertaining to the present life and the welfare pertaining to the life to come. Just as, brahmin, the footprints of whatever living beings walk upon the land all fit within the footprint of the elephant, and the elephant's footprint is declared the foremost of them, that is, by reason of its great size — even so, brahmin, heedfulness is the one thing which, when developed and cultivated, stands having secured both kinds of welfare — the welfare pertaining to the present life and the welfare pertaining to the life to come. Just as, brahmin, whatever rafters there are of a peaked house all slope toward the peak, incline toward the peak, converge upon the peak, and the peak is declared the foremost of them — even so, brahmin … Just as, brahmin, a reed-cutter, having cut the reeds, grasps them by the top and shakes them down, shakes them about, and shakes them clean — even so, brahmin … Just as, brahmin, when a cluster of mangoes is cut at the stalk, whatever mangoes are attached to the stalk all follow along with it — even so, brahmin … Just as, brahmin, whatever petty kings there are, all of them are subordinate to a wheel-turning monarch (cakkavatti), and the wheel-turning monarch is declared the foremost of them — even so, brahmin … Just as, brahmin, whatever radiance there is of the stars, all of it does not amount to a sixteenth part of the radiance of the moon, and the radiance of the moon is declared the foremost of them — even so, brahmin, heedfulness is the one thing which, when developed and cultivated, stands having secured both kinds of welfare — the welfare pertaining to the present life and the welfare pertaining to the life to come. This, brahmin, is the one thing which, when developed and cultivated, stands having secured both kinds of welfare — the welfare pertaining to the present life and the welfare pertaining to the life to come."
"Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent, Master Gotama! … Let Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower (upāsaka) who has gone for refuge for life, from this day forth."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.