[60] Now, Vāseṭṭha, what at that time was deemed contrary to what is right (adhammasammata) is nowadays deemed to be right (dhammasammata). And, Vāseṭṭha, those beings who at that time engaged in sexual intercourse (methunaṃ dhammaṃ) were not allowed to enter a village or a town for three months, or even for two months. When, Vāseṭṭha, those beings fell into excessive indulgence in that impure practice (asaddhamma), then they set about building houses for the purpose of concealing that very impure practice.
Then, Vāseṭṭha, it occurred to a certain being of a lazy disposition: "Well now, why should I trouble myself, gathering rice in the evening for the evening meal and in the morning for the morning meal? Why should I not gather rice just once, for both the evening and the morning meals?" Then, Vāseṭṭha, that being gathered rice just once, for both the evening and the morning meals.
Then, Vāseṭṭha, a certain other being approached that being; having approached, he said to that being: "Come, good being, let us go to gather rice." "Enough, good being! I have gathered rice just once, for both the evening and the morning meals." Then, Vāseṭṭha, that being, following that being's example, gathered rice just once, for two days, saying: "It seems, sir, this too is good."
Then, Vāseṭṭha, a certain other being approached that being; having approached, he said to that being: "Come, good being, let us go to gather rice." "Enough, good being! I have gathered rice just once, for both the evening and the morning meals." Then, Vāseṭṭha, that being, following that being's example, gathered rice just once, for four days, saying: "It seems, sir, this too is good."
Then, Vāseṭṭha, a certain other being approached that being; having approached, he said to that being: "Come, good being, let us go to gather rice." "Enough, good being! I have gathered rice just once, for four days." Then, Vāseṭṭha, that being, following that being's example, gathered rice just once, for eight days, saying: "It seems, sir, this too is good."
When, Vāseṭṭha, those beings set about eating rice that they had stored up, then powder enveloped the grain, and husk too enveloped the grain; what was reaped did not grow back; the place of cutting became apparent; and the rice stood in separate clumps.
[Editions note: The Siam Raṭṭha edition reads 'temāsampi dvemāsampi' ('for three months, or even two'); the Mahāsaṅgīti edition reads 'māsampi dvemāsampi' ('for one month, or even two'). This translation follows the Siam Raṭṭha reading.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.