[2201] When he had eaten there and had taken his delight,
the King of Kāsi said to Campeyya:
"These most excellent celestial mansions (vimāna) of yours,
sun-hued and shining radiant—
there is nothing such in the world of men (manussaloka).
For what purpose, O nāga, do you practise austerity (tapo)?
Those women wearing armlets of gold, finely clad,
with rounded fingers, endowed with copper-red palms,
of flawless beauty, lift up the cups and serve you drink—
there is nothing such in the world of men.
For what purpose, O nāga, do you practise austerity?
And these rivers of yours, with their broad-scaled fish,
resounding with the cries of ādāsakunta birds, with lovely fords—
there is nothing such in the world of men.
For what purpose, O nāga, do you practise austerity?
Cranes and peacocks and heavenly geese
and sweet-voiced cuckoos fly all about—
there is nothing such in the world of men.
For what purpose, O nāga, do you practise austerity?
Mango trees and sāls, tilakas and rose-apples,
uddālakas and pāṭali trees all in blossom—
there is nothing such in the world of men.
For what purpose, O nāga, do you practise austerity?
And all around these lotus ponds of yours
divine fragrances waft unceasingly—
there is nothing such in the world of men.
For what purpose, O nāga, do you practise austerity?"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.