The king said: ‘Does he, Nāgasena, who is about to be reborn know that he will be born?’

‘Yes, he knows it, O king.’

‘Give me an illustration.’

‘Suppose a farmer, O king, a householder, were to put seed in the ground, and it were to rain well, would he know that a crop would be produced.’

‘Yes, he would know that.’

‘Just so, great king, does he who is about to be reborn know that he will be born.’

‘Very good, Nāgasena!’