[309] Bhikkhus, therein the third group of ascetics and brahmins considered thus: 'Those first ascetics and brahmins … thus indeed those first ascetics and brahmins did not escape from the might and power of Māra. And those second ascetics and brahmins considered thus: "Those first ascetics and brahmins … thus indeed those first ascetics and brahmins did not escape from the might and power of Māra. Suppose we were to refrain altogether from the food of the seed (nivāpa), from the worldly bait (lokāmisa); refraining from that perilous enjoyment, let us plunge into the forest wilds and dwell there." They refrained altogether from the food of the seed, from the worldly bait; refraining from that perilous enjoyment, they plunged into the forest wilds and dwelt there. There they were eaters of greens … feeders on fallen fruit. Then, in the last month of the hot season, when the grass and water were exhausted, their bodies became extremely emaciated; when their bodies had become extremely emaciated, 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 went back to that very seed sown by Māra and to those worldly baits. Encroaching there, infatuated, they ate the foods; encroaching there and eating the foods infatuated, they fell into intoxication; being intoxicated, they fell into negligence; being negligent, they became such as Māra could do with as he willed amid that seed and that worldly bait. Thus indeed those second ascetics and brahmins too did not escape from the might and power of Māra. Suppose we were to make our lair in dependence upon that seed sown by Māra and those worldly baits; having made our lair there, we shall eat the foods without encroaching upon that seed sown by Māra and those worldly baits, and without infatuation; eating the foods without encroaching and without infatuation, we shall not fall into intoxication; not being intoxicated, we shall not fall into negligence; not being negligent, we shall not be such as Māra can do with as he wills amid that seed and that worldly bait.' They made their lair in dependence upon that seed sown by Māra and those worldly baits. Having made their lair there, eating the foods without encroaching upon that seed sown by Māra and those worldly baits and without infatuation, they did not fall into intoxication; not being intoxicated, they did not fall into negligence; not being negligent, they were not such as Māra could do with as he willed amid that seed and that worldly bait. Nevertheless, they held such views as these: 'The world is eternal' and 'The world is not eternal'; 'The world is finite' and 'The world is infinite'; 'The soul (jīva) and the body are the same' and 'The soul is one thing, the body another'; 'The Tathāgata exists after death' and 'The Tathāgata does not exist after death' and 'The Tathāgata both exists and does not exist after death' and 'The Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death.' Thus indeed, bhikkhus, those third ascetics and brahmins too did not escape from the might and power of Māra. Bhikkhus, just like that third herd of deer, so, I say, are these third ascetics and brahmins comparable.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.