UD 7.3  Paṭhamasatta sutta - Clinging (First)

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena sāvatthiyā manussā yebhuyyena kāmesu ativelaṁ sattā rattā giddhā gathitā mucchitā ajjhosannā sammattakajātā kāmesu viharanti.

Thus have I heard — At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. At that time, by and large, the people of Sāvatthi were excessively clinging to sensual pleasures—|infatuated by::inflamed by, enamoured by [rattā]|, desirous for, bound by, fixated with, attached to, blinded by, and intoxicated with sensual pleasures.

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁsu. Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “idha, bhante, sāvatthiyā manussā yebhuyyena kāmesu ativelaṁ sattā rattā giddhā gathitā mucchitā ajjhosannā sammattakajātā kāmesu viharantī”ti.

Then several bhikkhus, having dressed early in the morning and taking their alms bowls and outer robes, entered Sāvatthi for alms. Then, having wandered for alms in Sāvatthi, those bhikkhus, after their meal and having returned from their alms round, approached the Blessed One. Having drawn near, they paid homage to him and sat down to one side. As they were seated thus, they said to the Blessed One: “Here, venerable sir, by and large, the people of Sāvatthi are excessively clinging to sensual pleasures—infatuated by, desirous for, bound by, fixated with, attached to, blinded by, and intoxicated with sensual pleasures.”

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:

“Kāmesu sattā kāmasaṅgasattā,
Saṁyojane vajjamapassamānā;
Na hi jātu saṁyojanasaṅgasattā,
Oghaṁ tareyyuṁ vipulaṁ mahantan”ti.

“Clinging to sensual pleasures, entangled in the bonds of sensual desire,
they do not see the |fault::error, mistake, wrong [vajja]| in fetters;
|Bound fast by bonds and fetters::attached by ties and chains [saṃyojanasaṅgasatta]|, certainly,
they cannot cross the flood so great and vast.”