[169] "What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? Suppose King Pasenadi of Kosala, seated on an elephant's neck or standing on the chariot-mat, were to deliberate on some matter of counsel with high officers or nobles. And having stepped away from that spot, he were to stand to one side; and then a sudda or a sudda's slave were to come, and standing in that very spot were to deliberate that counsel, saying: 'Thus said King Pasenadi of Kosala; thus too said King Pasenadi of Kosala.' Now, merely because he speaks what the king spoke, or deliberates the king's counsel, would he thereby be a king or a king's chief minister?"
"Certainly not, worthy Gotama."
"Even so, Ambaṭṭha, those who were the ancient seers of the brahmins, the composers of the mantras, the promulgators of the mantras—whose ancient corpus of mantra verses, sung, proclaimed, and compiled, the brahmins of today sing after them and recite after them, reciting what was recited and teaching what was taught—namely, Aṭṭhaka, Vāmaka, Vāmadeva, Vessāmitta, Yamataggi, Aṅgīrasa, Bhāradvāja, Vāseṭṭha, Kassapa, and Bhagu—if you think, 'I, together with my tutor, learn their mantras,' and that merely on that account you will be a seer or one practicing for seerhood—that is impossible.
"What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? What have you heard from brahmins who are aged, elderly, tutors of tutors, when they were speaking? Those who were the ancient seers of the brahmins, the composers of the mantras, the promulgators of the mantras—whose ancient corpus of mantra verses, sung, proclaimed, and compiled, the brahmins of today sing after them and recite after them, reciting what was recited and teaching what was taught—namely, Aṭṭhaka, Vāmaka, Vāmadeva, Vessāmitta, Yamataggi, Aṅgīrasa, Bhāradvāja, Vāseṭṭha, Kassapa, and Bhagu—did those seers, well bathed, well anointed, with hair and beard dressed, adorned with garlands and ornaments, clothed in white garments, amuse themselves, endowed and provided with the five cords of sensual pleasure (kāmaguṇa), as you do now together with your tutor?"
"Certainly not, worthy Gotama." …
"Did they eat boiled rice of the sāli grain, with the black grains picked out, with many soups and many curries, as you do now together with your tutor?"
"Certainly not, worthy Gotama." …
"Did they amuse themselves with women wearing waistbands, their flanks curved, as you do now together with your tutor?"
"Certainly not, worthy Gotama." …
"Did they drive about in chariots drawn by mares with plaited tails, prodding the beasts onward with long goad-sticks, as you do now together with your tutor?"
"Certainly not, worthy Gotama." …
"Did they have themselves guarded by men girt with long swords, at city ramparts with moats dug out and bars set in place, as you do now together with your tutor?"
"Certainly not, worthy Gotama." …
"Thus indeed, Ambaṭṭha, you are neither a seer nor one practicing for seerhood, together with your tutor. But, Ambaṭṭha, whoever has doubt or perplexity concerning me, let him question me with a question; I shall clear it up with my answer."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.