This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard. Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Suppose a person was being carried along by a river current that seemed nice and pleasant. “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso nadiyā sotena ovuyheyya piyarūpasātarūpena. If a person with clear eyes saw them, they’d say: Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso tīre ṭhito disvā evaṁ vadeyya: ‘Worthy man, even though the river current carrying you along seems nice and pleasant, downstream there is a lake with waves and whirlpools, saltwater crocodiles and monsters. When you reach there it will result in death or deadly pain.’ ‘kiñcāpi kho tvaṁ, ambho purisa, nadiyā sotena ovuyhasi piyarūpasātarūpena, atthi cettha heṭṭhā rahado saūmi sāvaṭṭo sagaho sarakkhaso yaṁ tvaṁ, ambho purisa, rahadaṁ pāpuṇitvā maraṇaṁ vā nigacchasi maraṇamattaṁ vā dukkhan’ti. Then, when they heard what was said, they’d paddle against the stream using their hands and feet. Atha kho so, bhikkhave, puriso tassa purisassa saddaṁ sutvā hatthehi ca pādehi ca paṭisotaṁ vāyameyya.

I’ve made up this simile to make a point. Upamā kho me ayaṁ, bhikkhave, katā atthassa viññāpanāya. And this is the point. Ayañcettha attho: ‘River current’ is a term for craving. ‘nadiyā soto’ti kho, bhikkhave, taṇhāyetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Seeming nice and pleasant’ is a term for the six interior sense fields. ‘Piyarūpaṁ sātarūpan’ti kho, bhikkhave, channetaṁ ajjhattikānaṁ āyatanānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘A downstream lake’ is a term for the five lower fetters. ‘Heṭṭhā rahado’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Danger of waves’ is a term for anger and distress. ‘Ūmibhayan’ti kho, bhikkhave, kodhupāyāsassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Whirlpool’ is a term for the five kinds of sensual stimulation. ‘Āvaṭṭan’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Saltwater crocodiles and monsters’ is a term for ladies. ‘Gaharakkhaso’ti kho, bhikkhave, mātugāmassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Against the stream’ is a term for renunciation. ‘Paṭisoto’ti kho, bhikkhave, nekkhammassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Paddling with hands and feet’ is a term for rousing energy. ‘Hatthehi ca pādehi ca vāyāmo’ti kho, bhikkhave, vīriyārambhassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘A person with clear eyes’ is a term for the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.” ‘Cakkhumā puriso tīre ṭhito’ti kho, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassā”ti.

The Buddha spoke this matter. Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. On this it is said: Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“In pain they’d give up sensual pleasures, “Sahāpi dukkhena jaheyya kāme, aspiring to the future sanctuary from the yoke. Yogakkhemaṁ āyatiṁ patthayāno; With deep understanding and heart well freed, Sammappajāno suvimuttacitto, they’d experience universal liberation. Vimuttiyā phassaye tattha tattha; That knowledge master <j>who has completed the spiritual journey, Sa vedagū vūsitabrahmacariyo, and gone to the end of the world, <j>is called ‘one who has gone beyond’.” Lokantagū pāragatoti vuccatī”ti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard. Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Dasamaṁ.