[247] Then the darkness vanished for the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, and light appeared. The fear, trembling, and horripilation that had arisen in him subsided. A second time … A third time, the light vanished for the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, and darkness appeared. Fear, trembling, and horripilation arose in him, and right there he wished to turn back again. A third time the yakkha Sīvaka, remaining invisible, made his voice heard:
"A hundred elephants, a hundred horses, a hundred chariots drawn by mules,
a hundred thousand maidens adorned with jewelled earrings —
these are not worth a sixteenth part of a single step forward.
"Go forward, householder! Go forward, householder! Going forward is better for you, not turning back."
A third time the darkness vanished for the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, and light appeared. The fear, trembling, and horripilation that had arisen in him subsided. Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika approached the Sītavana grove.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.