Adorned with jewelry and all dressed up, with her garland and her makeup on, and her feet so brightly rouged: the courtesan was wearing slippers.
Taking off her slippers in front of me, her palms joined in greeting, smiling, she spoke to me so softly and so sweet:
“You’re too young to go forth—come, stay in my teaching! Enjoy human sensual pleasures, I’ll give you riches. I promise this is the truth—I swear it by the Sacred Flame.
And when we’ve grown old together, both of us leaning on staffs, we shall both go forth, and hold a winning hand on both counts.”
I saw the courtesan seducing me, her palms joined in greeting, adorned with jewelry and all dressed up, set up like a snare of death.
Then the realization came upon me—the danger became clear and I grew firmly disillusioned.
Then my mind was freed—see the excellence of the Dhamma! I’ve attained the three knowledges, and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.
Sundarasamudda
Thag 7.1 · Sundarasamuddattheragāthā
Connections
Collection & context
- TheragāthāThe collection containing this text
- The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
- Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
- The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting
Books
- Handful of Leaves: an Anthology from the Sutta PiṭakaEarly Buddhist discourses; Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (translator and compiler) · Included in anthology
About this edition
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato and Jessica Walton · SuttaCentral · CC0
This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.
Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.
The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.