[278] "Is it that the non-returner (anāgāmī) person — one who has done what was to be done (katakaraṇīya), who has developed the development (bhāvitabhāvana), whose burden (bhāra) has not been laid down — is reborn there, and does not develop the path (magga) again for the laying down of the burden?"
"Yes."
"And does he, with the burden not laid down, attain final Nibbāna (parinibbāyati) there?"
"It should not be said thus."
"Is it that the non-returner person — one who has done what was to be done, who has developed the development, who has not fully understood suffering (dukkha), who has not abandoned the defilements (kilesa), who has not realized cessation (nirodha), who has not penetrated the unshakeable (akuppa) — is reborn there, and does not develop the path again for the penetration of the unshakeable?"
"Yes."
"And does he, with the unshakeable not penetrated, attain final Nibbāna there?"
"It should not be said thus. …"
"Just as a deer pierced by a dart (salla), even after going far, dies — even so the non-returner person, by the path developed here, realizes the fruit (phala) there."
"Just as a deer pierced by a dart, even after going far, dies with the dart still in it — even so, then, does the non-returner person, by the path developed here, attain final Nibbāna there with the dart still in him?"
"It should not be said thus. …"
The Discussion of the Holy Life (Brahmacariyakathā).
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The Discussion of [Abandoning] Piecemeal (Odhisokathā)
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.