1Now on that occasion a great mass of people had been put in bondage by King Pasenadi of Kosala—some with ropes, some with clogs, some with chains. [n.216] Spk relates, as the background story, an abridged version of the prologue to Ja No. 92. The verses appear, however, also at Dhp 345–46, the commentarial background story to which states merely that the king had ordered the criminals brought before him to be bound with fetters, ropes, and chains. See Dhp-a IV 53–55; BL 3:223–24. The same story is in the prologue to Ja No. 201. sn.i.77

2Then, in the morning, a number of bhikkhus dressed … and said to the Blessed One: "Here, venerable sir, a great mass of people have been put in bondage by King Pasenadi of Kosala, some with ropes, some with clogs, some with chains."

3Then the Blessed One, having understood the meaning of this, on that occasion recited these verses:

4v.397 "That bond, the wise say, is not strong
Made of iron, wood, or rope;
But infatuation with jewellery and earrings,
Anxious concern for wives and children

5v.398 This, the wise say, is the strong bond,
Degrading, supple, hard to escape.
But even this they cut and wander forth,
Unconcerned, having abandoned sensual pleasures." [n.217] Spk: It is degrading (oharina) because it drags one down to the four realms of misery; supple (sithila), because unlike iron bonds it does not constrict one's physical movement but holds one in bondage wherever one goes; hard to escape (duppamuñca), because one cannot break free from it except by supramundane knowledge.

1Tena kho pana samayena raññā pasenadinā kosalena mahājanakāyo bandhāpito hoti, appekacce rajjūhi appekacce andūhi appekacce saṅkhalikāhi.

2Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pavisiṁsu. Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: "idha, bhante, raññā pasenadinā kosalena mahājanakāyo bandhāpito, appekacce rajjūhi appekacce andūhi appekacce saṅkhalikāhī"ti.

3Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

4"Na taṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā,
Yadāyasaṁ dārujaṁ pabbajañca;
Sārattarattā maṇikuṇḍalesu,
Puttesu dāresu ca yā apekkhā.

5Etaṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā,
Ohārinaṁ sithilaṁ duppamuñcaṁ;
Etampi chetvāna paribbajanti,
Anapekkhino kāmasukhaṁ pahāyā"ti.

Paṭhamo vaggo.