On seeing the people of Sāvatthi clinging to sensual pleasures, the Buddha expresses an inspired utterance on harm that comes from sensual desire.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena sāvatthiyā manussā yebhuyyena kāmesu sattā rattā giddhā gathitā mucchitā ajjhosannā andhīkatā 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 in Sāvatthi lived 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 bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Addasā kho bhagavā sāvatthiyā te manusse yebhuyyena kāmesu satte ratte giddhe gathite mucchite ajjhopanne andhīkate sammattakajāte kāmesu viharante.
Then the Blessed One, having dressed early in the morning and taking his alms bowl and outer robe, entered Sāvatthi for alms. There, he saw that by and large, the people in Sāvatthi lived 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:
“Kāmandhā jālasañchannā,
Taṇhāchadanachāditā;
Pamattabandhunā baddhā,
Macchāva kumināmukhe;
Jarāmaraṇamanventi,
Vaccho khīrapakova mātaran”ti.
“|Blinded by sensual desire::deluded by passion [kāmandha]|, enveloped by the net [of lust],
covered with the coating of |craving::wanting, yearning, longing, attachment, lit. thirst [taṇha]|;
Bound by the |kin of the careless::epithet of Māra, embodiment of all forces that keeps beings trapped in cyclic existence [pamattabandhu]|,
like fish in the mouth of a trap;
They approach old age and death,
like a calf suckling its mother.”
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 in Sāvatthi lived 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.
Then the Blessed One, having dressed early in the morning and taking his alms bowl and outer robe, entered Sāvatthi for alms. There, he saw that by and large, the people in Sāvatthi lived clinging to sensual pleasures—infatuated by, desirous for, bound by, fixated with, attached to, blinded by, and intoxicated with sensual pleasures.
Then, understanding the significance of this, the Blessed One at that time expressed this inspired utterance:
“|Blinded by sensual desire::deluded by passion [kāmandha]|, enveloped by the net [of lust],
covered with the coating of |craving::wanting, yearning, longing, attachment, lit. thirst [taṇha]|;
Bound by the |kin of the careless::epithet of Māra, embodiment of all forces that keeps beings trapped in cyclic existence [pamattabandhu]|,
like fish in the mouth of a trap;
They approach old age and death,
like a calf suckling its mother.”
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena sāvatthiyā manussā yebhuyyena kāmesu sattā rattā giddhā gathitā mucchitā ajjhosannā andhīkatā sammattakajātā kāmesu viharanti.
Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Addasā kho bhagavā sāvatthiyā te manusse yebhuyyena kāmesu satte ratte giddhe gathite mucchite ajjhopanne andhīkate sammattakajāte kāmesu viharante.
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
“Kāmandhā jālasañchannā,
Taṇhāchadanachāditā;
Pamattabandhunā baddhā,
Macchāva kumināmukhe;
Jarāmaraṇamanventi,
Vaccho khīrapakova mātaran”ti.