Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Awakened One, as I have heard:
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso nadiyā sotena ovuyheyya piyarūpasātarūpena. Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso tīre ṭhito disvā evaṁ vadeyya: ‘kiñcāpi kho tvaṁ, ambho purisa, nadiyā sotena ovuyhasi piyarūpasātarūpena, atthi cettha heṭṭhā rahado saūmi sāvaṭṭo sagaho sarakkhaso yaṁ tvaṁ, ambho purisa, rahadaṁ pāpuṇitvā maraṇaṁ vā nigacchasi maraṇamattaṁ vā dukkhan’ti. Atha kho so, bhikkhave, puriso tassa purisassa saddaṁ sutvā hatthehi ca pādehi ca paṭisotaṁ vāyameyya.
“Suppose a person was being carried down by a river current that appears lovely and alluring. And a man with clear eyes, standing on the bank, seeing him, might call out: ‘Good man, even though you’re being carried down by the river current that appears lovely and alluring, further down there is a deep pool with waves, containing whirlpools, and lurking with fierce beasts and monsters. Reaching that pool, good man, you will meet with death or deadly suffering.’ Then that person, having heard the voice of that man with clear eyes, would strive against the current with hands and feet.
Upamā kho me ayaṁ, bhikkhave, katā atthassa viññāpanāya. Ayañcettha attho:
This simile has been made by me for the purpose of conveying a meaning. And this is the meaning here:
‘nadiyā soto’ti kho, bhikkhave, taṇhāyetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘The river current,’ is a designation for craving.
‘Piyarūpaṁ sātarūpan’ti kho, bhikkhave, channetaṁ ajjhattikānaṁ āyatanānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘The lovely and alluring appearance,’ is a designation for the six internal sense bases.
‘Heṭṭhā rahado’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘The deep pool below,’ is a designation for the five lower fetters.
‘Ūmibhayan’ti kho, bhikkhave, kodhupāyāsassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘The danger of waves,’ is a designation for anger and irritation.
‘Āvaṭṭan’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘The whirlpools,’ is a designation for the five objects of sensual pleasure.
‘Gaharakkhaso’ti kho, bhikkhave, mātugāmassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘Fierce beasts and monsters,’ is a designation for woman.
‘Paṭisoto’ti kho, bhikkhave, nekkhammassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘Upstream,’ is a designation for renunciation.
‘Hatthehi ca pādehi ca vāyāmo’ti kho, bhikkhave, vīriyārambhassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘Striving [against the current] with hands and feet,’ is a designation for the rousing of energy.
‘Cakkhumā puriso tīre ṭhito’ti kho, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassā”ti.
‘The man with clear eyes standing on the bank,’ is a designation for the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One.”
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“Sahāpi dukkhena jaheyya kāme,
Yogakkhemaṁ āyatiṁ patthayāno;
Sammappajāno suvimuttacitto,
Vimuttiyā phassaye tattha tattha;
Sa vedagū vūsitabrahmacariyo,
Lokantagū pāragatoti vuccatī”ti.
“Even if it’s painful, one should abandon sensual pleasures,
aspiring for sanctuary [from cyclical existence];
clearly comprehending with a mind well-liberated,
may he touch liberation again and again;
he, with perfect knowledge, who has fulfilled the spiritual life,
is called one who has reached the world’s end, who has crossed beyond.”
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.