So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while oil lamps were burning. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti telappadīpesu jhāyamānesu.

And many moths were falling down and crashing down into the lamps, coming to grief and ruin. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā adhipātakā tesu telappadīpesu āpātaparipātaṁ anayaṁ āpajjanti, byasanaṁ āpajjanti, anayabyasanaṁ āpajjanti. The Buddha saw the moths coming to grief. Addasā kho bhagavā te sambahule adhipātake tesu telappadīpesu āpātaparipātaṁ anayaṁ āpajjante, byasanaṁ āpajjante, anayabyasanaṁ āpajjante.

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment: Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

“Hastening by, they miss the essence, “Upātidhāvanti na sāramenti, sprouting ever more new bonds. Navaṁ navaṁ bandhanaṁ brūhayanti; Like moths falling in the flame, Patanti pajjotamivādhipātakā, some have become fixed in what is seen or heard.” Diṭṭhe sute itiheke niviṭṭhā”ti.

Navamaṁ.