Thag 7.1 PTS: Thag 459-465- Sundara Samudda and the Courtesan

Tipitaka >> Sutta Pitaka >> Khuddaka Nikaya >> Theragatha >> Sundara Samudda and the Courtesan

Thag 7.1 PTS: Thag 459-465- Sundara Samudda and the Courtesan
Ornamented, finely clothed garlanded, adorned, her feet stained red with lac, she wore slippers: a courtesan.

Stepping out of her slippers — her hands raised before me, palm-to-palm over her heart — she softly, tenderly, in measured words spoke to me first: "You are young, recluse. Heed my message: Partake of human sensuality. I will give you luxury. Truly I vow to you, <p style="text-align:center;">I will tend to you as to a fire. <p style="text-align:center;">When we are old, <p style="text-align:center;">both leaning on canes, <p style="text-align:center;">then we will both become contemplatives, <p style="text-align:center;">winning the benefits of both worlds."

<p style="text-align:center;">And seeing her before me — <p style="text-align:center;">a courtesan, ornamented, finely clothed, <p style="text-align:center;">hands palm-to-palm over her heart — <p style="text-align:center;">like a snare of death laid out, <p style="text-align:center;">apt attention arose in me, <p style="text-align:center;">the drawbacks appeared, <p style="text-align:center;">disenchantment stood <p style="text-align:center;">at an even keel: <p style="text-align:center;">With that, my heart was released. <p style="text-align:center;">See the Dhamma's true rightness! <p style="text-align:center;">The three knowledges <p style="text-align:center;">have been attained; <p style="text-align:center;">the Buddha's bidding, <p style="text-align:center;">done.