[57] Then, Vāseṭṭha, those beings, feeding on the earth's nectar (rasapathavī), with that as their food and that as their nourishment, remained for a long time, for a great length of time. And to whatever extent those beings, feeding on the earth's nectar, with that as their food and that as their nourishment, remained for a long time, for a great length of time, to that extent coarseness descended into their bodies, and a divergence of complexion became apparent. Some beings were of fine complexion; some beings were of poor complexion. Therein, those beings who were of fine complexion looked down upon the beings of poor complexion, thinking: 'We are of finer complexion than they; they are of poorer complexion than we.' Then, because of their conceit over complexion, in those beings given over to pride and arrogance, the earth's nectar vanished. When the earth's nectar had vanished, they gathered together; and having gathered, they lamented: 'Oh, the taste! Oh, the taste!' So even today, when people obtain something of fine flavor, they say: 'Oh, the taste! Oh, the taste!' They merely recall that ancient, primordial expression, but they do not understand its meaning.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.