4:2 The Octad on the Cave

772Stuck in the cave, densely covered over,
dwelling immersed in bewilderment, [152]
a person such as this is far from seclusion,
for in the world sensual pleasures are not easily abandoned. (1)

773Based upon desire, bound to enjoyment of existence,
they let go with difficulty, for there is no release through others.
Concerned, too, with the future or the past,
they hanker for these sensual pleasures or earlier ones. (2)

774Those greedy for sensual pleasures, intent on them,
are confused, stingy, settled in the unrighteous.
When they come upon suffering they lament:
“What will we be after we pass away here?” (3)

775Therefore a person should train right here:
whatever in the world one might know as unrighteous,
one should not on its account act unrighteously,
for the wise say this life is short. (4)

776I see in the world this population trembling all over,
addicted to craving for states of existence;
inferior people prattle in the mouth of death,
not devoid of craving for various states of existence. (5)

777See them trembling over things taken as “mine”
like fish in a depleted stream with little water.
Having seen this too, one should take nothing as “mine,”
not forming attachment to states of existence. (6)

778Having removed desire for both ends,
having fully understood contact, without greed,
not doing anything for which one might blame oneself,
the wise person is not tainted by things seen or heard. (7) [153]

779Having fully understood perception,
one can cross the flood.
The muni, untainted by possessions,
with the dart extracted, living heedfully,
does not desire this world or another. (8)

Guhaṭṭhakasutta

772Satto guhāyaṁ bahunābhichanno,
Tiṭṭhaṁ naro mohanasmiṁ pagāḷho;
Dūre vivekā hi tathāvidho so,
Kāmā hi loke na hi suppahāyā.

773 Icchānidānā bhavasātabaddhā,
Te duppamuñcā na hi aññamokkhā;
Pacchā pure vāpi apekkhamānā,
Ime va kāme purime va jappaṁ.

774 Kāmesu giddhā pasutā pamūḷhā,
Avadāniyā te visame niviṭṭhā;
Dukkhūpanītā paridevayanti,
Kiṁsū bhavissāma ito cutāse.

775 Tasmā hi sikkhetha idheva jantu,
Yaṁ kiñci jaññā visamanti loke;
Na tassa hetū visamaṁ careyya,
Appañhidaṁ jīvitamāhu dhīrā.

776 Passāmi loke pariphandamānaṁ,
Pajaṁ imaṁ taṇhagataṁ bhavesu;
Hīnā narā maccumukhe lapanti,
Avītataṇhāse bhavābhavesu.

777 Mamāyite passatha phandamāne,
Maccheva appodake khīṇasote;
Etampi disvā amamo careyya,
Bhavesu āsattimakubbamāno.

778 Ubhosu antesu vineyya chandaṁ,
Phassaṁ pariññāya anānugiddho;
Yadattagarahī tadakubbamāno,
Na lippatī diṭṭhasutesu dhīro.

779 Saññaṁ pariññā vitareyya oghaṁ,
Pariggahesu muni nopalitto;
Abbūḷhasallo caramappamatto,
Nāsīsatī lokamimaṁ parañcāti.

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Guhaṭṭhakasuttaṁ dutiyaṁ.