ReadingFaithfully.org icon Facebook icon Reddit icon Tumblr icon Mastodon icon RSS icon

SN 1.78 Kāmasutta: Desire

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side. Standing to one side, that deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“What should one who desires the good not give away?
What should a mortal not reject?
What should be let out when it’s good,
but not when it’s bad?”

The Buddha:

“A man shouldn’t give away himself.
He shouldn’t reject himself.
Speech should be let out when it’s good,
but not when it’s bad.”


Read this translation of Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.78 Kāmasutta: Desire by Bhikkhu Sujato on SuttaCentral.net. Or read a different translation on SuttaCentral.net. Or listen on PaliAudio.com or SC-Voice.net. Or explore the Pali on DigitalPaliReader.online.