[376] "Vāseṭṭha, suppose this river Aciravatī were full of water, brimming level with its banks, so that a crow could drink from it. Then a man might come along wanting the far shore, seeking the far shore, bound for the far shore, desiring to cross over to the far shore. Standing on the near bank, he would call out to the far bank: 'Come here, far shore! Come here, far shore!' What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Would the far bank of the river Aciravatī come over to the near bank on account of that man's calling, on account of his begging, on account of his wishing, or on account of his rejoicing?"
"No indeed, worthy Gotama."
"Even so, Vāseṭṭha, the brahmins versed in the three Vedas, proceeding having abandoned those qualities that make one a brahmin, and proceeding having taken up those qualities that make one not a brahmin, speak thus: 'We call upon Inda! We call upon Soma! We call upon Varuṇa! We call upon Isāna! We call upon Pajāpati! We call upon Brahmā! We call upon Mahinda!' And, Vāseṭṭha, that those brahmins versed in the three Vedas — proceeding having abandoned those qualities that make one a brahmin, and proceeding having taken up those qualities that make one not a brahmin — will, at the breaking up of the body, after death, attain to companionship with Brahmā on account of calling, on account of begging, on account of wishing, or on account of rejoicing: this is not possible."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.