[110] Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. Now on that occasion King Pasenadi of Kosala had gone with Queen Mallikā to the upper storey of the splendid palace. Then King Pasenadi of Kosala said to Queen Mallikā: "Mallikā, is there anyone dearer to you than yourself?"
"There is no one, great king, dearer to me than myself. But you, great king — is there anyone dearer to you than yourself?"
"For me too, Mallikā, there is no one dearer than myself."
Then King Pasenadi of Kosala descended from the palace and approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, King Pasenadi of Kosala said to the Blessed One: "Here, venerable sir, when I had gone with Queen Mallikā to the upper storey of the splendid palace, I said to Queen Mallikā: 'Mallikā, is there anyone dearer to you than yourself?' When this was said, Queen Mallikā said this: 'There is no one, great king, dearer to me than myself. But you, great king — is there anyone dearer to you than yourself?' When this was said, venerable sir, I said to Queen Mallikā: 'For me too, Mallikā, there is no one dearer than myself.'"
Then the Blessed One, having understood the meaning of this, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance (udāna):
Having traversed all quarters with the mind,
one nowhere found any dearer than oneself;
even so, to each of the many others the self is likewise dear —
therefore one who loves self should not harm another.
The First Sutta.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.