A deity asks the Buddha how the complexion of those dwelling in the wilderness and living the spiritual life becomes serene.
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, ignorant persons dry up and wither away,
like a green reed cut down.”
At Sāvatthi.
Standing to one side, that deity addressed the Blessed One with a verse:
“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?”
[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]|.
By |yearning::praying, longing [pajappati]| for the future,
and |mourning for::regretting [anusocanā]| the past;
Through this, ignorant persons dry up and wither away,
like a green reed cut down.”
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
“Araññe viharantānaṁ,
santānaṁ brahmacārinaṁ;
Ekabhattaṁ bhuñjamānānaṁ,
kena vaṇṇo pasīdatī”ti.
“Atītaṁ nānusocanti,
nappajappanti nāgataṁ;
Paccuppannena yāpenti,
tena vaṇṇo pasīdati.
Anāgatappajappāya,
atītassānusocanā;
Etena bālā sussanti,
naḷova harito luto”ti.