Sensual Pleasure

When a mortal desires a sensual pleasure

and gets it,

of course they are elated —

they got what they wanted.

But when that pleasure fades

for the one who longed for it —

they're pierced as if by an arrow.

Whoever sidesteps sensual pleasures

as a foot sidesteps a snake's head,

mindful, passes beyond

this stickiness in the world.

Fields, land, gold;

cattle and horses, slaves and servants;

women, relatives, every kind of pleasure —

the person greedy for all these…

…weakness overpowers them,

dangers crush them.

Suffering follows them

as water follows a broken boat.

So a person, ever mindful,

should sidestep sensual pleasures.

Letting them go, they may cross the flood —

as one who has bailed out a boat reaches the far shore.