Standing to one side, the young deity Kāmada addresses the Buddha in verse on with kāmada.

SN 2.6 With Kāmada

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho kāmado devaputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “dukkaraṁ, bhagavā, sudukkaraṁ, bhagavā”ti.

(kāmadāti bhagavā)

Sekhā sīlasamāhitā;
Ṭhitattā anagāriyupetassa,
Tuṭṭhi hoti sukhāvahā”ti.

“Dullabhā, bhagavā, yadidaṁ tuṭṭhī”ti.

(kāmadāti bhagavā)

Cittavūpasame ratā;
Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,
Bhāvanāya rato mano”ti.

“Dussamādahaṁ, bhagavā, yadidaṁ cittan”ti.

(kāmadāti bhagavā)

Indriyūpasame ratā;
Te chetvā maccuno jālaṁ,
Ariyā gacchanti kāmadā”ti.

“Duggamo, bhagavā, visamo maggo”ti.

“Duggame visame vāpi,
Ariyā gacchanti kāmada;
Anariyā visame magge,
Papatanti avaṁsirā;
Ariyānaṁ samo maggo,
Ariyā hi visame samā”ti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho kāmado devaputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Standing to one side, the godling Kāmada said to the Buddha,

“dukkaraṁ, bhagavā, sudukkaraṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s too hard, Blessed One! It’s just too hard!”

“Dukkaraṁ vāpi karonti,

“They do it even though it’s hard,”

(kāmadāti bhagavā)

said the Buddha to Kāmada,

Sekhā sīlasamāhitā;

“the stable trainees with ethics, and immersion.

Ṭhitattā anagāriyupetassa,

For one who has entered the homeless life,

Tuṭṭhi hoti sukhāvahā”ti.

contentment brings happiness.”

“Dullabhā, bhagavā, yadidaṁ tuṭṭhī”ti.

“Such contentment, Blessed One, is hard to find.”

“Dullabhaṁ vāpi labhanti,

“They find it even though it’s hard,”

(kāmadāti bhagavā)

said the Buddha to Kāmada,

Cittavūpasame ratā;

“those who love peace of mind;

Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca,

whose minds love to meditate

Bhāvanāya rato mano”ti.

day and night.”

“Dussamādahaṁ, bhagavā, yadidaṁ cittan”ti.

“But it’s hard, Blessed One, to immerse this mind in samādhi.”

“Dussamādahaṁ vāpi samādahanti,

“They become immersed in samādhi even though it’s hard,”

(kāmadāti bhagavā)

said the Buddha to Kāmada,

Indriyūpasame ratā;

“those who love calming the faculties.

Te chetvā maccuno jālaṁ,

Having cut through the net of Death,

Ariyā gacchanti kāmadā”ti.

the noble ones, Kāmada, go on their way.”

“Duggamo, bhagavā, visamo maggo”ti.

“But this path, Blessed One, is rough and hard to travel.”

“Duggame visame vāpi,

“Though it’s rough, hard to travel,

Ariyā gacchanti kāmada;

the noble ones, Kāmada, go on their way.

Anariyā visame magge,

The ignoble fall headfirst

Papatanti avaṁsirā;

on a rough path.

Ariyānaṁ samo maggo,

But the path of the noble ones is smooth,

Ariyā hi visame samā”ti.

for the noble ones are smooth amid the rough.”

Topics & Qualities:

Affection

Affection

A mental quality of tender affection and fond regard, often wholesome when rooted in kindness, which inclines the mind toward warmth and care. When unguarded, it may turn toward fixation upon what is 'dear,' leading the mind to attachment and the grief that follows separation from what has been clung to as 'dear'.

Also known as: fondness, love, tender regard
Pāli: pema
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Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Contentment

Contentment

The quality of being satisfied with the requisites one has and with the present conditions, resulting in having few desires and being free from agitation.

Also known as: fewness of wishes, having few desires, satisfaction, sense of ease
Pāli: santutthi, appicchatā, tuṭṭha, tosana
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Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026