In the present one monk, on seeing a woman, becomes discontent with his monastic life. The Buddha tells a story of how one holy ascetic was tempted and lost his powers when he saw the queen naked one day, and how he retired from his place in the king’s garden back to the Himālayas, and regained his powers.

1. Saṅkapparāgadhotena, vitakkanisitena ca –
Nālaṅkatena bhadrena, usukārākatena ca.

By the cleansing of lustful thoughts, and by the sharpening of thought – not by adorning, not by blessings, and not by the fletcher.

2. Na kaṇṇāyatamuttena, nāpi morūpasevinā –
Tenamhi hadaye viddho sabbaṅgaparidāhinā.

Not by shooting from the ear, not by using a peacock’s feather – by defilements I’m pierced in the heart with a fire in all my limbs.

3. Āvedhañ-ca na passāmi yato ruhiram-assave,
Yāva ayoniso cittaṁ, sayaṁ me dukkham-ābhatan-ti.

I can see no wound on my body from where the blood might flow out, my heart is very careless, suffering is brought upon myself.

In this connection, by the cleansing of lustful thoughts, by the cleansing of sensual thoughts connected with lust.

And by the sharpening of thought means by this the water of lust is sharpened on the rock of thought.

Not by adorning, not by blessings, neither by adorning, or by blessings, but by not adorning, by repulsion, this is the meaning.

And not by the fletcher means also not made by the fletcher.

Not by shooting from the ear, having drawn an arrow as far as the root of the right ear, but by not shooting it. Lit. by not releasing (it).

Not by using a peacock’s feather means by not making use of a peacock’s feather, a vulture’s feather and so on on the arrowhead.

By defilements I’m pierced in the heart means by this, by the thorn of defilements, I have been pierced in the heart.

With a fire in all my limbs means with a fire able to burn all my limbs. Great king, beginning from the time when I was pierced in the heart by the thorn of defilements, there has been something like a fire burning all my limbs, this is the explanation.

I can see no wound on my body means I can see no place I am pierced, and no injury.

From where the blood might flow out, I cannot see a wound from where the blood might trickle out, this is the meaning.

My heart is very careless, here yāva is an emphatic particle, having become very firm, and developed a heart that is careless, this is the meaning.

Suffering is brought upon myself, by myself I have brought suffering upon myself.

 

last updated: November 2022