The Buddha teaches on dangers, presenting a sixfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 6.23 Dangers

“‘Bhayan’ti, bhikkhave, kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ; ‘dukkhan’ti, bhikkhave, kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ; ‘rogo’ti, bhikkhave, kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ; ‘gaṇḍo’ti, bhikkhave, kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ; ‘saṅgo’ti, bhikkhave, kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ; ‘paṅko’ti, bhikkhave, kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

Kasmā ca, bhikkhave, ‘bhayan’ti kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ? Kāmarāgarattāyaṁ, bhikkhave, chandarāgavinibaddho diṭṭhadhammikāpi bhayā na parimuccati, samparāyikāpi bhayā na parimuccati, tasmā ‘bhayan’ti kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

Kasmā ca, bhikkhave, dukkhanti …pe… rogotigaṇḍotisaṅgotipaṅkoti kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ? Kāmarāgarattāyaṁ, bhikkhave, chandarāgavinibaddho diṭṭhadhammikāpi paṅkā na parimuccati, samparāyikāpi paṅkā na parimuccati, tasmā ‘paṅko’ti kāmānametaṁ adhivacananti.

Bhayaṁ dukkhaṁ rogo gaṇḍo,
saṅgo paṅko ca ubhayaṁ;
Ete kāmā pavuccanti,
yattha satto puthujjano.

Upādāne bhayaṁ disvā,
jātimaraṇasambhave;
Anupādā vimuccanti,
jātimaraṇasaṅkhaye.

Te khemappattā sukhino,
diṭṭhadhammābhinibbutā;
Sabbaverabhayātītā,
sabbadukkhaṁ upaccagun”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“‘Bhayan’ti, bhikkhave, kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ;

“‘Danger’, mendicants, is a term for sensual pleasures.

‘dukkhan’ti, bhikkhave, kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ;

‘Suffering’,

‘rogo’ti, bhikkhave, kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ;

‘disease’,

‘gaṇḍo’ti, bhikkhave, kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ;

‘boil’,

‘saṅgo’ti, bhikkhave, kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ;

‘chain’,

‘paṅko’ti, bhikkhave, kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

and ‘bog’ are terms for sensual pleasures.

Kasmā ca, bhikkhave, ‘bhayan’ti kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ?

And why is ‘danger’ a term for sensual pleasures?

Kāmarāgarattāyaṁ, bhikkhave, chandarāgavinibaddho diṭṭhadhammikāpi bhayā na parimuccati, samparāyikāpi bhayā na parimuccati, tasmā ‘bhayan’ti kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

Someone who is besotted by sensual greed and shackled by lustful desire is not freed from dangers in this life or in lives to come. That is why ‘danger’ is a term for sensual pleasures.

Kasmā ca, bhikkhave, dukkhanti …pe…

And why are ‘suffering’,

rogoti

‘disease’,

gaṇḍoti

‘boil’,

saṅgoti

‘snare’,

paṅkoti kāmānametaṁ adhivacanaṁ?

and ‘bog’ terms for sensual pleasures?

Kāmarāgarattāyaṁ, bhikkhave, chandarāgavinibaddho diṭṭhadhammikāpi paṅkā na parimuccati, samparāyikāpi paṅkā na parimuccati, tasmā ‘paṅko’ti kāmānametaṁ adhivacananti.

Someone who is besotted by sensual greed and shackled by lustful desire is not freed from suffering, disease, boils, chains, or bogs in this life or in lives to come. That is why these are terms for sensual pleasures.

Bhayaṁ dukkhaṁ rogo gaṇḍo,

Danger, suffering, disease, boils,

saṅgo paṅko ca ubhayaṁ;

and chains and bogs both.

Ete kāmā pavuccanti,

These describe the sensual pleasures

yattha satto puthujjano.

to which ordinary people are attached.

Upādāne bhayaṁ disvā,

Seeing the danger in grasping,

jātimaraṇasambhave;

the origin of birth and death,

Anupādā vimuccanti,

the unattached are freed

jātimaraṇasaṅkhaye.

with the ending of birth and death.

Te khemappattā sukhino,

Happy, they’ve come to a safe place,

diṭṭhadhammābhinibbutā;

quenched in this very life.

Sabbaverabhayātītā,

They’ve gone beyond all threats and dangers,

sabbadukkhaṁ upaccagun”ti.

and risen above all suffering.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Desire

Desire

A wholesome motivation, interest, or objective that acts as the starting point for effort and application of will.

Also known as: aspiration, interest, wish, having an objective, intention, impulse
Pāli: chanda
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Greed

Greed

A grasping mental quality of craving, possessiveness, or lustful wanting that clings to objects or experiences; it fuels attachment and obstructs renunciation and contentment

Also known as: acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, rapacity, money grabbing, grabbiness
Pāli: lobha, gedha
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Sensual desire

Sensual desire

A mental quality of desiring sensory gratification. It pulls the mind’s attention toward sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches in a search for satisfaction.

Also known as: craving for sensuality, passion for sensual pleasures, lust, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026