Verses on Dhamma 5.10.69_4

5.10.69_4

Aparena pana samayena dhammasabhāyaṃ mahājano kathaṃ samuṭṭhāpesi ‘‘khīṇāsavāpi maññe kāmasukhaṃ sādiyanti, kāmaṃ sevanti, kiṃ na sevissanti, na hi ete koḷāparukkhā, na ca vammikā allamaṃsasarīrāva, tasmā etepi kāmasukhaṃ sādiyanti, kāmaṃ sevantī’’ti. Satthā āgantvā ‘‘kāya nuttha, bhikkhave, etarahi kathāya sannisinnā’’ti pucchitvā ‘‘imāya nāmā’’ti vutte, ‘‘na, bhikkhave, khīṇāsavā kāmasukhaṃ sādiyanti, na kāmaṃ sevanti. Yathā hi padumapatte patitaṃ udakabindu, na vilimpati, na saṇṭhāti, vinivattetvā patateva, yathā ca āragge sāsapo na vilimpati, na saṇṭhāti, vinivattetvā patateva, evaṃ khīṇāsavassa citte duvidhopi kāmo na vilimpati, na saṇṭhātī’’ti anusandhiṃ ghaṭetvā dhammaṃ desento imaṃ brāhmaṇavagge gāthamāha –

Some time later the throng assembled in the Hall of Truth began to discuss the incident: "Even those that have rid themselves of the Depravities like the pleasures of love and gratify their passions. Why should they not? They are not kolāpa-trees or ant-hills, but are living creatures with bodies of moist flesh. Therefore they also like the pleasures of love and gratify their passions." The Teacher drew near and asked them, "Monks, what are you sitting here now talking about?" They told him. Then he said, "Monks, they that have rid themselves of the Depravities neither like the pleasures of love nor gratify their passions. For even as a drop of water which has fallen upon a lotus-leaf does not cling thereto or remain thereon, but rolls over and falls off, even as a grain of mustard-seed does not cling to the point of an awl or remain thereon, but rolls over and falls off, precisely so twofold love does not cling to the heart of one who has rid himself of the Depravities or remain there." And joining the connection, he instructed them in the Law by pronouncing the following Stanza, found in the Brāhmaṇa Vagga,