The Buddha describes the fetter of craving as the most significant bond, bound by which, beings continue wandering on in cyclic existence.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Awakened One, as I have heard:
“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekasaṁyojanampi samanupassāmi yena saṁyojanena saṁyuttā sattā dīgharattaṁ sandhāvanti saṁsaranti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, taṇhāsaṁyojanaṁ. Taṇhāsaṁyojanena hi, bhikkhave, saṁyuttā sattā dīgharattaṁ sandhāvanti saṁsarantī”ti.
“I do not see any other single fetter by which being bound, |bhikkhus,::::| beings have wandered on and undergone |repeated existence::wandering on from one state of existence to another, the cycle of birth and death, moving on continuously [saṁsāra]| for a long time as by this fetter of |craving::wanting, yearning, longing, attachment, lit. thirst [taṇha]|. Bound by the fetter of craving, |bhikkhus,::::| beings have wandered on and undergone repeated existence for a long time.”
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“Taṇhādutiyo puriso,
dīghamaddhāna saṁsaraṁ;
Itthabhāvaññathābhāvaṁ,
saṁsāraṁ nātivattati.
“A person with craving as their companion
undergoes repeated existence for a long time;
from one state of |existence::being, becoming; continued conditional existence, the karmically conditioned mode of being that leads to future rebirth [bhava]| to another,
they do not go beyond cyclic existence.
Etamādīnavaṁ ñatvā,
Taṇhaṁ dukkhassa sambhavaṁ;
Vītataṇho anādāno,
Sato bhikkhu paribbaje”ti.
Having understood this |drawback::disadvantage, unsatisfactoriness, inadequacy, danger [ādīnava]| clearly,
that craving leads to the |arising::origin, source [sambhava]| of |suffering::mild suffering, intense suffering, discomfort, pain, disease, unpleasantness, stress, discontentment, dissatisfaction [dukkhassa]|;
free from craving and |not grasping::not taking anything as one’s own [anādāna]|,
a bhikkhu should wander mindfully.”
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Awakened One, as I have heard:
“I do not see any other single fetter by which being bound, |bhikkhus,::::| beings have wandered on and undergone |repeated existence::wandering on from one state of existence to another, the cycle of birth and death, moving on continuously [saṁsāra]| for a long time as by this fetter of |craving::wanting, yearning, longing, attachment, lit. thirst [taṇha]|. Bound by the fetter of craving, |bhikkhus,::::| beings have wandered on and undergone repeated existence for a long time.”
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“A person with craving as their companion
undergoes repeated existence for a long time;
from one state of |existence::being, becoming; continued conditional existence, the karmically conditioned mode of being that leads to future rebirth [bhava]| to another,
they do not go beyond cyclic existence.
Having understood this |drawback::disadvantage, unsatisfactoriness, inadequacy, danger [ādīnava]| clearly,
that craving leads to the |arising::origin, source [sambhava]| of |suffering::mild suffering, intense suffering, discomfort, pain, disease, unpleasantness, stress, discontentment, dissatisfaction [dukkhassa]|;
free from craving and |not grasping::not taking anything as one’s own [anādāna]|,
a bhikkhu should wander mindfully.”
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
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.