Tipitaka » Sutta Pitaka » Khuddaka Nikaya » Dhammapada » Verse 147
(Dhammapada146)<<<< Previous||Dhammapada147||Next >>>>(Dhammapada148)
Dhammapada Verse 147 - Sirima Vatthu[]
Daw Mya Tin Version[]
Passa cittakatam bimbam
arukayam samussitam
aturam babusankappam(1)
yassa natthi dhuvam thiti.
Verse 147: Look at this dressed up body, a mass of sores, supported (by bones), sickly, a subject of many thoughts (of sensual desire). Indeed, that body is neither permanent nor enduring.
1. bahusankappam: the body, which is the subject of many thoughts of sensual desire and admiration.
The Story of Sirima
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (147) of this book, with reference to Sirima the courtesan.
Once, there lived in Rajagaha, a very beautiful courtesan by the name of Sirima. Every day Sirima offered alms-food to eight bhikkhus. One of these bhikkhus happened to mention to other bhikkhus how beautiful Sirima was and also that she offered very delicious food to the bhikkhus every day. On hearing this, a young bhikkhu fell in love with Sirima even without seeing her. The next day, the young bhikkhu went with the other bhikkhus to the house of Sirima. Sirima was not well on that day, but since she wanted to pay obeisance to the bhikkhus, she was carried to their presence. The young bhikkhu, seeing Sirima, thought to himself, "Even though she is sick, she is very beautiful !" And he felt a strong desire for her.
That very night, Sirima died. King Bimbisara went to the Buddha and reported to him that Sirima, the sister of Jivaka, had died. The Buddha told King Bimbisara to take the dead body to the cemetery and keep it there for three days without burying it, but to have it protected from crows and vultures. The king did as he was told. On the fourth day, the dead body of the beautiful Sirima was no longer beautiful or desirable; it got bloated and maggots came out from the nine orifices. On that day, the Buddha took his bhikkhus to the cemetery to observe the body of Sirima. The king also came with his men. The young bhikkhu, who was so desperately in love with Sirima, did not know that Sirima had died. When he learnt that the Buddha and the bhikkhus were going to see Sirima, he joined them. At the cemetery, the corpse of Sirima was surrounded by the bhikkhus headed by the Buddha, and also by the king and his men.
The Buddha then asked the king to get a town crier announce that Sirima would be available on payment of one thousand in cash per night. But no body would take her for one thousand, or for five hundred, or for two hundred and fifty, or even if she were to be given free of charge. Then the Buddha said to the audience,"Bhikkhus! Look at Sirima. When she was living, there were many who were willing to give one thousand to spend one night with her; but now none would take her even if given without any payment. The body of a person is subject to deterioration and decay."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 147: Look at this dressed up body, a mass of sores, supported (by bones), sickly, a subject of many thoughts (of sensual desire). Indeed, that body is neither permanent nor enduring.
At the end of the discourse, the young bhikkhu attained Sotapatti Fruition.
Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero Version[]
The Story of Sirimā
Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Sirimā the courtesan.
Once, there lived in Rājagaha, a very beautiful courtesan by the name of Sirimā. Every day Sirimā offered alms-food to eight monks. One of these monks happened to mention to other monks how beautiful Sirimā was and also that she offered very delicious food to the monks every day. On hearing this, a young monk fell in love with Sirimā even without seeing her. The next day, the young monk went with the other monks to the house of Sirimā. Sirimā was not well on that day, but since she wanted to pay obeisance to the monks, she was carried to the presence of the monks. The young monk, seeing Sirimā, thought to himself, “Even though she is sick, she is very beautiful!” And he felt a strong desire for her.
That very night, Sirimā died. King Bimbisāra went to the Buddha and reported to him that “Sirimā, the sister of Jīvaka, had died. The Buddha told King Bimbisāra to take the dead body to the cemetery and keep it there for three days without burying it, but to have it protected from crows and vultures. The king did as he was told. On the fourth day, the dead body of the beautiful Sirimā was no longer beautiful or desirable; it got bloated and maggots came out of the nine orifices. On that day, the Buddha took his monks to the cemetery to observe the body of Sirimā. The king also came with his men. The young monk, who was so desperately in love with Sirimā, did not know that Sirimā had died. When he learnt that the Buddha and the monks were going to see Sirimā, he joined them. At the cemetery, the corpse of Sirimā was surrounded by the monks headed by the Buddha, and also by the king and his men.
The Buddha, surrounded by the congregation of monks, stood on one side of the corpse; the congregation of nuns and the king’s retinue and the company of lay disciples, both male and female, stood on the other side of the corpse, each company in its proper place. The Buddha then asked the king, “Great king, who is this woman?” “Venerable, it is Jīvaka’s sister Sirimā.” “Is this Sirimā?” “Yes, Venerable.” “Well! Send a drum through the town and make proclamation, ‘Those who will pay a thousand pieces of money for Sirimā may have her.’” Not a man said ‘hem’ or ‘hum’. The king brought down the price to a penny, then to a half-penny, then to a quarter of a penny, then to an eighth of a penny. At last he proclaimed to the beating of a drum, “They may have her for nothing.” Not a man said ‘hem’ or ‘hum’. Then said the king to the Buddha, “Venerable, no one will take her, even as a gift.” The Buddha replied, “Monks, you see the value of a woman in the eyes of the multitude. In this very city men used to pay a thousand pieces of money for the privilege of spending one night with this woman. Now there is no one who will take her as a gift. Such was her beauty which had perished and gone. Behold, monks, this body diseased and corrupt.”
Explanatory Translation (Verse 147)
yassa dhuvaṃ ṭhiti natthi. arukāyaṃ samussitaṃ
āturaṃ bahusaṅkappaṃ cittakataṃ bimbaṃ passa
yassa: for this body; dhuvaṃ ṭhiti: permanent existence; natthi: there is not; arukāyaṃ [arukāya]: (it is in fact) body of sores; samussitaṃ [samussita]: propped up by many bones; āturaṃ [ātura]: (it is) afflicted with sickness; bahusaṅkappaṃ [bahusaṅkappa]: by many well thought of; cittakataṃ [cittakata]: glamorously made up; bimbaṃ [bimba]: this body; passa: observe
This body has no permanent existence. It is in fact a body of sores. It is diseased. It is propped up by many kinds of bones. It is considered by many to be good. It is well thought of by many. It is glamorously made up. Observe this true nature of the body.
Commentary and exegetical material (Verse 147)
natthi dhuvaṃ ṭhiti: this body cannot last. It has no permanent existence–arukāyaṃ. This is, in fact, a body of sores.
āturaṃ: it is diseased; bahusaṅkappaṃ: well thought of by many; samussitaṃ: the body has many bones. These bones prop it up; cittakataṃ: glamorously made up. All these are categorized as illusory notions regarding body.
Illustration[]
