I have said: “Consciousness conditions name-and-form” and this is the way that should be understood, Ānanda.

...If consciousness were not to come into the mother's womb, would name-and-form develop there?

‘No, Venerable Sir.’

Or if consciousness, having entered the mother’s womb, were to be deflected, would name-and-form come to birth in this life?

‘No, Venerable Sir.’

And if the consciousness of such a tender young being, boy or girl, were thus cut off, would name-and-form grow, develop, and mature?

‘No, Venerable Sir.’

Therefore, Ānanda, just this, namely consciousness, is the root, the cause, the origin, the condition of name-and-form.

I have said: “Name-and-form conditions consciousness” and this is the way that should be understood, Ānanda.

If consciousness did not find a resting-place in name-and-form, would there subsequently be an arising and coming-to-be of birth, aging, death, and discontentedness?