[304] "Bhikkhus, thereupon the third herd of deer considered thus: 'Those deer of the first herd, [encroaching upon] that crop (nivāpa) sown by the sower (nevāpika) … Thus that first herd of deer did not escape the sower's power. And those deer of the second herd considered thus: "Those deer of the first herd, [encroaching upon] that crop sown by the sower … Thus that first herd of deer did not escape the sower's power. Suppose we were to abstain altogether from eating of the crop; abstaining from that dangerous food, let us plunge into the wilderness regions and dwell there." They abstained altogether from eating of the crop and, abstaining from that dangerous food, they plunged into the wilderness regions and dwelt there. But in the last month of the hot season, when the grass and water were exhausted, their bodies became extremely emaciated; with their bodies extremely emaciated, their strength and energy waned; when their strength and energy had waned, they returned to that very crop sown by the sower. Encroaching upon it, they ate the foods infatuated; encroaching there and eating the foods infatuated, they fell into intoxication; being intoxicated, they fell into negligence; being negligent, they were treated by the sower just as he wished amid that crop. Thus the second herd of deer likewise did not escape the sower's power. Suppose we were to make our lair in dependence upon that crop sown by the sower; having made our lair there, we shall eat the foods of that crop sown by the sower without encroaching, uninfatuated; eating the foods without encroaching, uninfatuated, we shall not fall into intoxication; not being intoxicated, we shall not fall into negligence; not being negligent, we shall not be treated by the sower as he wishes amid that crop.' They made their lair in dependence upon that crop sown by the sower; having made their lair there, they ate the foods of that crop sown by the sower without encroaching, uninfatuated; eating the foods there without encroaching, uninfatuated, they did not fall into intoxication; not being intoxicated, they did not fall into negligence; not being negligent, they were not treated by the sower as he wished amid that crop.
Bhikkhus, thereupon it occurred to the sower and the sower's company: 'These deer of the third herd are indeed cunning and crafty! These deer of the third herd must be strange beings possessed of psychic power! For they eat this sown crop, and yet we know neither their coming nor their going. Suppose we were to surround this sown crop completely on every side, including the adjoining ground, with great staked nets; then perhaps we might see the lair of the third herd of deer, where they go to take cover.' So they surrounded that sown crop completely on every side, including the adjoining ground, with great staked nets. And, bhikkhus, the sower and the sower's company saw the lair of the third herd of deer, where they went to take cover. Thus, bhikkhus, the third herd of deer likewise did not escape the sower's power."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.