[845] Having heard the words of King Vedeha, Kassapa said this:
"Hear from me, great king, a word that is true and unerring:
there is no fruit, good or evil, of conduct in accordance with the Dhamma.
There is no world beyond (paraloka), sire — for who has come here from it?
Nor, sire, are there forefathers — whence a mother, whence a father?
There is no such thing as a teacher — who shall tame the untamed?
Beings are all equal and alike; there is no deference to elders.
There is no strength, no energy (viriya) — whence could come a man's exertion?
For beings are fixed [in their course]: as the tow-boat (goṭavisa) [trails behind the ship], so are they.
A mortal obtains just what is to be obtained — whence, then, any fruit of giving (dāna)?
There is no fruit of giving, sire; even one of god-like energy is powerless.
Giving has been laid down by fools and accepted by the wise;
powerless, fools who fancy themselves wise give to the clever."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.