在一旁站好後，那位天神以偈頌對佛陀說：
「住在林野的寂靜梵行者，
日食一餐，為何容色明淨？」
佛陀：
「他們不悲傷過去，不希求未來，
他們依當下而活，因此容色明淨。
(反之)由於希求未來的，由於悲傷過去的，
以此，愚者乾枯，如被割斷的綠蘆葦。」
At Savatthi. Standing to one side, that devatā recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
“Those who dwell deep in the forest,
Peaceful, leading the holy life,
Eating but a single meal a day:
Why is their complexion so serene?”
The Blessed One:
“They do not sorrow over the past,
Nor do they hanker for the future.
They maintain themselves with what is present:
Hence their complexion is so serene.
Through hankering for the future,
Through sorrowing over the past,
Fools dry up and wither away
Like a green reed cut down.”
