[447] "O deity, whoever, having understood that [a task] is utterly incapable of being carried through to its end,
would not [strive to] protect his own life —
he would come to know [the consequence], should he slacken.
Some in this world, O deity,
engage in works [looking to] the fruit of their designs;
those works succeed, or they do not.
Do you not see, O deity, the fruit of action (kammaphala),
to be seen for oneself (sandiṭṭhika)?
The others have sunk; I am crossing over,
and I see you close at hand.
Therefore I shall strive according to my ability and according to my strength;
going on to the further shore of the ocean,
I shall do what is to be done by a man."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.