Kāmasutta

Sutta Nipāta 4.1

Anthology of Discourses 4.1

Kāmasutta

Sensual Pleasures

Kāmaṁ kāmayamānassa,

If a mortal desires sensual pleasure

tassa ce taṁ samijjhati;

and their desire succeeds,

Addhā pītimano hoti,

they definitely become elated,

laddhā macco yadicchati.

having got what they want.

Tassa ce kāmayānassa,

But for that personage in the throes of pleasure,

chandajātassa jantuno;

aroused by desire,

Te kāmā parihāyanti,

when those pleasures fade,

sallaviddhova ruppati.

it inflicts them like an arrow strike.

Yo kāme parivajjeti,

One who, being mindful,

sappasseva padā siro;

avoids sensual pleasures

Somaṁ visattikaṁ loke,

like side-stepping a snake’s head,

sato samativattati.

transcends attachment to the world.

Khettaṁ vatthuṁ hiraññaṁ vā,

There are many objects of sensual desire:

gavāssaṁ dāsaporisaṁ;

fields, lands, and gold; cattle and horses;

Thiyo bandhū puthu kāme,

slaves and servants; women and relatives.

yo naro anugijjhati.

When a man lusts over these,

Abalā naṁ balīyanti,

the weak overpower him

maddantenaṁ parissayā;

and adversities crush him.

Tato naṁ dukkhamanveti,

Suffering follows him

nāvaṁ bhinnamivodakaṁ.

like water in a leaky boat.

Tasmā jantu sadā sato,

That’s why a personage, ever mindful,

Kāmāni parivajjaye;

should avoid sensual pleasures.

Te pahāya tare oghaṁ,

Give them up and cross the flood,

Nāvaṁ sitvāva pāragūti.

as a bailed-out boat reaches the far shore.

Kāmasuttaṁ paṭhamaṁ.