And then the brahmin Jānussoṇi went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:
“Aristocrats, worthy Gotama, have what as their ambition? What is their preoccupation? What are they fixated on? What do they insist on? What is their ultimate goal?”
“Aristocrats, brahmin, have wealth as their ambition. They’re preoccupied with wisdom. They’re fixated on power. They insist on territory. Their ultimate goal is authority.”
“Brahmins, worthy Gotama, have what as their ambition? What is their preoccupation? What are they fixated on? What do they insist on? What is their ultimate goal?”
“Brahmins have wealth as their ambition. They’re preoccupied with wisdom. They’re fixated on the hymns. They insist on sacrifice. Their ultimate goal is the realm of divinity.”
“Householders, worthy Gotama, have what as their ambition? What is their preoccupation? What are they fixated on? What do they insist on? What is their ultimate goal?”
“Householders have wealth as their ambition. They’re preoccupied with wisdom. They’re fixated on their profession. They insist on work. Their ultimate goal is to complete their work.”
“Women, worthy Gotama, have what as their ambition? What is their preoccupation? What are they fixated on? What do they insist on? What is their ultimate goal?”
“Women have a man as their ambition. They’re preoccupied with adornments. They’re fixated on their children. They insist on being without a co-wife. Their ultimate goal is authority.”
“Bandits, worthy Gotama, have what as their ambition? What is their preoccupation? What are they fixated on? What do they insist on? What is their ultimate goal?”
“Bandits have theft as their ambition. They’re preoccupied with a hiding place. They’re fixated on their sword. They insist on darkness. Their ultimate goal is invisibility.”
“Ascetics, worthy Gotama, have what as their ambition? What is their preoccupation? What are they fixated on? What do they insist on? What is their ultimate goal?”
“Ascetics have patience and gentleness as their ambition. They’re preoccupied with wisdom. They’re fixated on ethical conduct. They insist on owning nothing. Their culmination is extinguishment.”
“It’s incredible, worthy Gotama, it’s amazing! The worthy Gotama knows the ambition, preoccupation, fixation, insistence, and ultimate goal of aristocrats, brahmins, householders, women, bandits, and ascetics. Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”