766
If a person craving for sensual pleasure is successful,
He’s delighted, yes,
The mortal who gets what he wants.
Kāmaṃ kāmayamānassa tassa ce taṃ samijjhati
Addhā pītimano hoti laddhā macco yadicchati
767
But that person,
Craving and longing,
If his pleasures diminish,
He suffers as if pierced with an arrow.
Tassa ce kāmayānassa chandajātassa jantuno
Te kāmā parihāyanti sallaviddhova ruppati
768
Whoever, attentive, avoids sensual pleasure
As one might, with one’s foot, the head of a snake,
Leaves behind this attachment to the world.
Yo kāme parivajjeti sappasseva padā siro
Somaṃ visattikaṃ loke sato samativattati
769-770
A man who is greedy
For fields, property and gold,
Cattle and horses,
Slaves, servants, maids and relatives,
And many sensual pleasures
Is overpowered by what is weak
And is crushed by troubles.
Sorrow invades him like water into a leaky boat.
Khettaṃ vatthuṃ hiraññaṃ vā gavassaṃ dāsaporisaṃ
Thiyo bandhū puthu kāme yo naro anugijjhati
Abalā naṃ balīyanti maddantenaṃ parissayā
Tato naṃ dukkhamanveti nāvaṃ bhinnamivodakaṃ
771
So a person, ever attentive,
Should avoid the objects of desire.
Having detached from them
He will cross the flood of sorrow
Like one, having bailed out a boat,
Who reaches the further shore.
Tasmā jantu sadā sato kāmāni parivajjaye
Te pahāya tare oghaṃ nāvaṃ sitvāva pāragūti
Notes on Translation:
