[154] Then, young students, the ministers and members of the royal assembly approached the seer Kaṇha and said this to him: "Venerable sir, may there be safety for the king! Venerable sir, may there be safety for the king!"
"There will be safety for the king. But if the king releases the razor-tipped arrow (khurappa) downwards, then the earth will split apart throughout the whole extent of the king's realm."
"Venerable sir, may there be safety for the king, and may there be safety for the country!"
"There will be safety for the king, and there will be safety for the country. But if the king releases the razor-tipped arrow upwards, then the heavens will not rain for seven years throughout the whole extent of the king's realm."
"Venerable sir, may there be safety for the king, may there be safety for the country, and may the heavens rain!"
"There will be safety for the king, there will be safety for the country, and the heavens will rain. But let the king place the razor-tipped arrow upon the eldest prince: the prince will be safe and unruffled."
Then, young students, King Okkāka placed the razor-tipped arrow upon the eldest prince, [with the thought,] "The prince will be safe and unruffled." Then, young students, King Okkāka placed the razor-tipped arrow upon the eldest prince, and the prince was safe and unruffled. King Okkāka, terrified of him, threatened by the divine punishment (brahmadaṇḍa), gave him his daughter Maddarūpī.
Young students, do not disparage the young student Ambaṭṭha too severely with the word "son of a slavegirl." That Kaṇha was an eminent seer.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.