[41] (3) And in the third case, depending on what, relying on what, are those honorable ascetics and brahmins endless equivocators (amarāvikkhepikā), who, when questioned on this or that point, resort to verbal equivocation, to endless equivocation? Bhikkhus, here some ascetic or brahmin does not understand as it really is (yathābhūta), 'This is skillful (kusala)'; he does not understand as it really is, 'This is unskillful (akusala)'. He thinks thus: 'I do not understand as it really is, "This is skillful"; I do not understand as it really is, "This is unskillful." Now if I, not understanding as it really is, "This is skillful," not understanding as it really is, "This is unskillful," were to declare, "This is skillful," or were to declare, "This is unskillful"—there are ascetics and brahmins who are wise, subtle, practiced in the doctrines of others, splitters of hairs, who wander about, one would think, demolishing views with their intellect. They might cross-examine me on that point, press me for reasons, and refute me. If they were to cross-examine me on that point, press me for reasons, and refute me, I would not be able to answer them. If I could not answer them, that would be distress for me; and what would be distress for me would be an obstacle for me.' Thus, from fear of interrogation, from loathing of interrogation, he neither declares, 'This is skillful,' nor declares, 'This is unskillful'; and when questioned on this or that point, he resorts to verbal equivocation, to endless equivocation: 'I do not say it is thus. I do not say it is so. I do not say it is otherwise. I do not say it is not. I do not say it is not not.' Bhikkhus, this is the third ground, depending on which, relying on which, some ascetics and brahmins are endless equivocators, who, when questioned on this or that point, resort to verbal equivocation, to endless equivocation.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.