[308] Bhikkhus, thereupon the second group of ascetics and brahmins considered thus: 'Those first ascetics and brahmins, having encroached upon that seed (nivāpa) sown by Māra and upon those worldly baits (lokāmisa), ate the food infatuated; eating the food there, having encroached, infatuated, they fell into intoxication; being intoxicated, they fell into negligence; being negligent, they became such as Māra could do with as he pleased amid that seed and amid those worldly baits. Thus indeed those first ascetics and brahmins did not escape the power and might of Māra. Suppose, then, that we were to abstain altogether from the seed-food, from the worldly baits; abstaining from that perilous enjoyment, let us plunge into the forest wilds and dwell there.' They abstained altogether from the seed-food, from the worldly baits; abstaining altogether from the seed-food, from the worldly baits, abstaining from that perilous enjoyment, they plunged into the forest wilds and dwelt there. There they were eaters of greens, eaters of millet, eaters of wild rice, eaters of daddula-rice, eaters of the haṭa water-plant, eaters of rice-bran, eaters of rice-scum, eaters of sesame flour, eaters of grass, eaters of cow dung; they subsisted on forest roots and fruits, feeding on fallen fruit. But in the last month of the hot season, when the grass and water were exhausted, their bodies reached extreme emaciation; when their bodies had reached extreme emaciation, their strength and energy declined; when their strength and energy had declined, their liberation of mind (cetovimutti) declined; when their liberation of mind had declined, they returned to that very seed sown by Māra and to those worldly baits. Having encroached there, infatuated, they ate the food; eating the food there, having encroached, infatuated, they fell into intoxication; being intoxicated, they fell into negligence; being negligent, they became such as Māra could do with as he pleased amid that seed and amid those worldly baits. Thus indeed, bhikkhus, the second group of ascetics and brahmins also did not escape the power and might of Māra. Just as that second herd of deer, bhikkhus, so, I say, are these second ascetics and brahmins to be compared.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.