Linked Discourses 1.21

1. A Sword

A Sword

At Sāvatthī.

Standing to one side, that deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Like they’re struck by a sword,

like their head was on fire,

a mendicant, mindful, should go forth,

to give up sensual desire.”

“Like they’re struck by a sword,

like their head was on fire,

a mendicant, mindful, should go forth,

to give up substantialist view.”