[381] S. The present exists?
P. Yes.
S. Is what exists present?
P. What exists may be present, or may be not present.
S. Acknowledge the refutation (niggaha): If the present exists, and what exists may be present or may be not present, then the present is not present, and what is not present is present. What you assert there — that it can indeed be said, 'The present exists; what exists may be present, or may be not present,' and that thereby the present is not present and what is not present is present — is wrong. But if it is not [to be said] that the present is not present and that what is not present is present, then indeed it should not be said, 'The present exists; what exists may be present, or may be not present.' What you assert there — that it can indeed be said, 'The present exists; what exists may be present, or may be not present,' and that thereby the present is not present and what is not present is present — is wrong.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.