Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthi.
Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Standing to one side, that deity addressed the Blessed One with a verse:
“Araññe viharantānaṁ,
santānaṁ brahmacārinaṁ;
Ekabhattaṁ bhuñjamānānaṁ,
kena vaṇṇo pasīdatī”ti.
“For those dwelling in the |wilderness::forest, remoteness [arañña]|,
peaceful ones who live the |spiritual life::a life of celibacy, contemplation, and ethical discipline lived for the sake of liberation; oriented toward inner development rather than sensual pleasures [brahmacariya]|;
eating only one meal a day,
how does their complexion become serene?”
“Atītaṁ nānusocanti,
nappajappanti nāgataṁ;
Paccuppannena yāpenti,
tena vaṇṇo pasīdati.
[The Blessed One]: “They don’t |sorrow::grieve [socati]| over the past,
nor do they yearn for the future;
they continue to live through the present,
by this, their complexion |becomes serene::is bright, becomes clear [pasīdati]|.
Anāgatappajappāya,
atītassānusocanā;
Etena bālā sussanti,
naḷova harito luto”ti.
By |yearning::praying, longing [pajappati]| for the future,
and |mourning for::regretting [anusocanā]| the past;
through this, the immature persons dry up and wither away,
like a green reed cut down.”