UD 6.9  Upātidhāvanti sutta - Moths Rushing to the Flame

Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti telappadīpesu jhāyamānesu.

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. At that time, under the dark night sky, illuminated only by oil lamps, the Blessed One sat in the open.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā adhipātakā tesu telappadīpesu āpātaparipātaṁ anayaṁ āpajjanti, byasanaṁ āpajjanti, anayabyasanaṁ āpajjanti. Addasā kho bhagavā te sambahule adhipātake tesu telappadīpesu āpātaparipātaṁ anayaṁ āpajjante, byasanaṁ āpajjante, anayabyasanaṁ āpajjante.

During this period, numerous moths, drawn to the light of those oil lamps, met with tragedy, experiencing misfortune and disaster. The Blessed One observed these many moths as they plummeted into the lamps, facing their unfortunate and disastrous end.

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding the significance of this, the Blessed One at that time expressed this inspired utterance:

“Upātidhāvanti na sāramenti,
Navaṁ navaṁ bandhanaṁ brūhayanti;
Patanti pajjotamivādhipātakā,
Diṭṭhe sute itiheke niviṭṭhā”ti.

“Rushing forward, they find no essence,
Always forming, bond upon new bond;
They plunge like moths into the flame,
Bound by what is seen, |heard::and assumed|.”