[224] 'Now, while the king is performing the great sacrifice, someone might say: "King Mahāvijita performs a great sacrifice, but he is not handsome, not good to look upon, not gracious, not endowed with supreme beauty of complexion; he is not of Brahmā-like appearance, not of Brahmā-like splendor, not of no mean aspect to behold …" … "but he is not rich, not of great wealth, not of great possessions, without abundant gold and silver, without abundant means and requisites of enjoyment, without abundant money and grain, his treasury and granaries not full …" … "but he is not powerful, not endowed with a fourfold army that is obedient and responsive to instruction, nor does he, one would think, scorch his foes with his glory; nor is he faithful, a giver, a lord of giving (dānapati), his door never closed, a veritable wellspring for ascetics and brahmins, paupers, wayfarers, vagrants, and beggars, making merit; nor is he deeply learned in this and that field of learning; nor does he know the meaning of this and that statement — "This is the meaning of this statement; this is the meaning of that statement"; nor is he wise, competent, intelligent, capable of thinking through matters of the past, future, and present — and yet the king performs such a great sacrifice!" Even so, there is no one who could speak against the king legitimately. For the king is indeed wise, competent, intelligent, capable of thinking through matters of the past, future, and present. By this too let the king know it: let the king sacrifice, let the king relinquish, let the king rejoice, and let the king make his heart confident within.'
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.