[219] **"I shall not be able to release" (nāhaṃ samissāmi pamocanāya):** I am not able to release you, to set you free, to liberate you, to deliver you, to draw you out, to have you drawn out, or to raise you up from the dart of doubt (kathaṃkathā-salla). Thus too, "I shall not be able to release."
Or else: I do not strive, I do not endeavour, I do not exert myself, I do not make effort, I do not make exertion, I do not apply ardour, I do not apply vigour, I do not apply steadfastness (dhiti), I do not apply energy (vīriya); I do not generate, engender, produce, or bring forth zeal (chanda) to teach the Dhamma to persons who are without faith (saddhā), without zeal, lazy, of inferior energy, who do not practise accordingly. Thus too, "I shall not be able to release."
Or else: there is no one else who can release them. If they should be released, it is by their own vigour, their own strength, their own energy, their own exertion, by their own manly vigour, their own manly strength, their own manly energy, their own manly exertion, practising for themselves the right practice, the conforming practice, the practice in accordance with the goal, the practice of the Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma, that they would be released. Thus too, "I shall not be able to release."
For this was said by the Blessed One: "Cunda, that one who is himself sunk in the mire should draw out another who is sunk in the mire — this is impossible. Cunda, that one who is himself untamed, undisciplined, not fully quenched should tame another, discipline him, and bring him to full quenching — this is impossible." Thus too, "I shall not be able to release."
For this was said by the Blessed One:
By oneself alone is evil done;
by oneself is one defiled.
By oneself is evil left undone;
by oneself alone is one purified.
Purity and impurity are individual matters;
no one can purify another.
Thus too, "I shall not be able to release."
For this was said by the Blessed One: "Even so, brahmin, Nibbāna stands, the path (magga) to Nibbāna stands, and I stand as the one who enjoins. And yet, while my disciples are being thus advised and thus instructed by me, some attain Nibbāna, the ultimate goal, and some do not attain it. What can I do about that, brahmin? The Tathāgata, brahmin, is a declarer of the path: asked about the path, he points it out. Practising for themselves, they would be released." Thus too, "I shall not be able to release."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.