Sūtra of King Pāyāsi 1.13

1.13

復次，迦葉報大王言：「王意如是，勿更有喻可為證耶？」王言：「迦葉！我今更有親屬之喻可以為證。迦葉！如我親屬染於重病，將其命斷還當付囑，告病人言：『我聞沙門及婆羅門常作是說：「若人持戒修諸善法，或有惠施三輪清淨，見他殊勝不生嫉意，是人命盡生於天界。」若彼沙門及婆羅門所言誠實，汝之命終必生天界。何以故？我觀於汝常具戒品及修善法，三輪清淨而行惠施，仍於他勝不生嫉意，以此當知定生天界。若得生天當遣使來，或復自來用報於我：「即今已得生於某天，受於快樂。」』迦葉！我諸親屬若實生天必來相報，云何親屬但見終歿無來報者？以此當知，定無來世。」

Then Kāśyapa said to the great king: “If your view is like this, do you not have another simile to prove it?” The king said: “Kāśyapa, I now have another simile regarding relatives that can serve as proof. Kāśyapa, when a relative of mine catches a severe illness and is about to lose his life, I likewise entrust him, saying to the sick person: ‘I have heard that śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas constantly speak thus: “If a person maintains the precepts, cultivates good dharmas, or practices giving with the three wheels purified, and seeing others’ excellence does not generate jealousy, that person upon the end of life will be reborn in heaven.” If what those śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas say is true, after your life ends you will definitely be reborn in heaven. Why? I observe that you always possess the category of precepts and cultivate good dharmas, practice giving with the three wheels purified, and do not generate jealousy toward others’ excellence; by this one should know that you will definitely be reborn in heaven. If you succeed in being reborn in heaven, you must send a messenger or come yourself to report to me: “I have now succeeded in being reborn in such-and-such a heaven and am experiencing joy.”’ Kāśyapa, if my relatives were truly reborn in heaven, they would certainly come to report to me. Why is it that with my relatives, one only sees their demise, and there has never been one who returns to report? By this one should know that there is definitely no future world.”