[158] "What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? Suppose here the aristocrats (khattiyā), for some offense, were to shave an aristocrat's head, punish him with a sack of ashes, and banish him from the realm or from the city. Would he receive a seat or water among the brahmins?"
"He would, worthy Gotama."
"And would the brahmins feed him at an offering for the departed (saddha), at a milk-rice offering (thālipāka), at a sacrifice, or at a feast for guests?"
"They would feed him, worthy Gotama."
"And would the brahmins teach him the hymns (mantā), or not?"
"They would teach him, worthy Gotama."
"And would he be barred from the women, or not barred?"
"He would not be barred, worthy Gotama."
"To this extent, Ambaṭṭha, an aristocrat has reached the utmost degradation—namely, when the aristocrats shave his head, punish him with a sack of ashes, and banish him from the realm or from the city. Thus, Ambaṭṭha, even when an aristocrat has reached the utmost degradation, still the aristocrats alone are superior, and the brahmins inferior.
And this verse, Ambaṭṭha, was spoken by the Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra:"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.