‹ Library

Sutta Nipāta 4.7

Tissametteyyasutta

To Tissametteyya on the Dangers of Sex · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

Parallels & more translations on SuttaCentral

Glosses: Fluent · Literal · Off
Translation: Hide · Show

Tap any word for its dictionary entry.

“Methunamanuyuttassa,
(iccāyasmā tisso metteyyo)
Vighātaṁ brūhi mārisa;
Sutvāna tava sāsanaṁ,
Viveke sikkhissāmase”.

“When someone indulges in sex,” said Venerable Tissametteyya, “tell us, good fellow: what trouble befalls them? After hearing your instruction, we shall train in seclusion.”

“Methunamanuyuttassa,
(metteyyāti bhagavā)
Mussate vāpi sāsanaṁ;
Micchā ca paṭipajjati,
Etaṁ tasmiṁ anāriyaṁ.

“When someone indulges in sex,” replied the Buddha, “they forget their instructions and go the wrong way— that is something ignoble in them.

Eko pubbe caritvāna,
methunaṁ yo nisevati;
Yānaṁ bhantaṁva taṁ loke,
hīnamāhu puthujjanaṁ.

Someone who formerly lived alone and then resorts to sex is like a chariot careening off-track; in the world they call them a low, ordinary person.

Yaso kitti ca yā pubbe,
hāyate vāpi tassa sā;
Etampi disvā sikkhetha,
methunaṁ vippahātave.

Their former fame and reputation also fall away. Seeing this, they’d train to give up sex.

Saṅkappehi pareto so,
kapaṇo viya jhāyati;
Sutvā paresaṁ nigghosaṁ,
maṅku hoti tathāvidho.

Oppressed by thoughts, they brood like a wretch. When they hear what others are saying, that sort is embarrassed.

Atha satthāni kurute,
paravādehi codito;
Esa khvassa mahāgedho,
mosavajjaṁ pagāhati.

Then they lash out with verbal daggers when reproached by others. This is their great blind spot; they sink to lies.

Paṇḍitoti samaññāto,
ekacariyaṁ adhiṭṭhito;
Athāpi methune yutto,
mandova parikissati.

They once were considered astute, committed to the solitary life. But then they indulged in sex, dragged along by desire like a dullard.

Etamādīnavaṁ ñatvā,
Muni pubbāpare idha;
Ekacariyaṁ daḷhaṁ kayirā,
Na nisevetha methunaṁ.

Knowing this danger in falling from a former state here, a sage would firmly resolve to wander alone, and would not resort to sex.

Vivekaññeva sikkhetha,
etaṁ ariyānamuttamaṁ;
Na tena seṭṭho maññetha,
sa ve nibbānasantike.

They’d train themselves only in seclusion; this, for the noble ones, is highest. One who’d not think themselves ‘best’ due to that has truly drawn near to extinguishment.

Rittassa munino carato,
Kāmesu anapekkhino;
Oghatiṇṇassa pihayanti,
Kāmesu gadhitā pajā”ti.
Tissametteyyasuttaṁ sattamaṁ.

People tied to sensual pleasures envy them: the isolated, wandering sage who has crossed the flood, unconcerned for sensual pleasures.”

Lite mode — plain HTML for e-readers and old browsers. Full version