15. Craving

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekasaṁyojanampi samanupassāmi yena saṁyojanena saṁyuttā sattā dīgharattaṁ sandhāvanti saṁsaranti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, taṇhāsaṁyojanaṁ.

Taṇhāsaṁyojanena hi, bhikkhave, saṁyuttā sattā dīgharattaṁ sandhāvanti saṁsarantī”ti.

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Taṇhādutiyo puriso,

dīghamaddhāna saṁsaraṁ;

Itthabhāvaññathābhāvaṁ,

saṁsāraṁ nātivattati.

Etamādīnavaṁ ñatvā,

Taṇhaṁ dukkhassa sambhavaṁ;

Vītataṇho anādāno,

Sato bhikkhu paribbaje”ti.

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Pañcamaṁ.

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, I do not perceive any single fetter other than the fetter of craving by which beings are so tied and for so long a time run on and wander in saṁsāra. It is indeed through the fetter of craving that beings are tied and for a long time run on and wander in saṁsāra.”

A man companioned by craving
Wanders on this long journey;
He cannot go beyond saṁsāra
In this state of being or another.

Having understood the danger thus—
That craving is the origin of suffering—
A bhikkhu should wander mindfully,
Free from craving, without grasping.