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Thag 7.1

Sundarasamudda

Sundarasamuddattheragāthā

from: The Book of the Sevens

Chapter One

Sundarasamudda

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.

Translation: German (Ayyā Sabbamittā), English (Bhikkhu Sujato). Source: SuttaCentral / Bilara (public domain, CC0).

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