[835] "Householders, if wanderers of other sects should ask you thus: 'But what are the grounds, what is the evidence, concerning those venerable ones, by reason of which you venerable ones speak thus: "Surely those venerable ones are either free of lust (rāga) or practicing for the removal of lust, either free of hatred (dosa) or practicing for the removal of hatred, either free of delusion (moha) or practicing for the removal of delusion"?' — being asked thus, householders, you should answer those wanderers of other sects thus: 'It is because those venerable ones resort to remote lodgings in the forest wilderness. For there are no such forms cognizable by the eye there that, seeing them again and again, they might delight in; there are no such sounds cognizable by the ear there that, hearing them again and again, they might delight in; there are no such odors cognizable by the nose there that, smelling them again and again, they might delight in; there are no such tastes cognizable by the tongue there that, tasting them again and again, they might delight in; there are no such tangibles cognizable by the body there that, touching them again and again, they might delight in. These, friends, are our grounds, this is the evidence, by reason of which we speak of those venerable ones thus: "Surely those venerable ones are either free of lust or practicing for the removal of lust, either free of hatred or practicing for the removal of hatred, either free of delusion or practicing for the removal of delusion."' Being asked thus, householders, you should answer those wanderers of other sects thus."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.