Dhammapada, Dhamma Verses (KN 2)

4: The Chapter about Flowers – 30
Pheṇūpamaṁ kāyam-imaṁ viditvā,
Knowing that this body is just like froth, 1
marīcidhammaṁ abhisambudhāno,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage, 2
chetvāna Mārassa papupphakāni,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped (arrows), 3
adassanaṁ Maccurājassa gacche. [46]
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight. 4
Pupphāni heva pacinantaṁ byāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ,
* Death takes up and carries away the one whose mind is attached to collecting flowers, 5
suttaṁ gāmaṁ mahogho va, maccu ādāya gacchati. [47]
like a great flood (carries off) a sleeping village.
Pupphāni heva pacinantaṁ byāsattamanasaṁ naraṁ,
* The End-Maker 6 takes control of the one whose mind is attached to collecting flowers,
atittaṁ yeva kāmesu Antako kurute vasaṁ. [48]
even though he is unsated with sense pleasures.
Yathā pi bhamaro pupphaṁ vaṇṇagandhaṁ aheṭhayaṁ
Just as a bee, without hurting the flower, its colour or scent,
paḷeti rasam-ādāya, evaṁ gāme munī care. [49]
gathers its nectar and escapes, 7 so should the seer roam in the village.
1
The emphasis is on its unsubstantiality.
2
The point here is the illusory nature of permanence.
3
Or, we might say, Māra’s temptations.
4
That is, to Nibbāna, which is something beyond the ken of Māra who is the king of death.
5
Here metaphorical for the strands of sense-pleasures (kāmaguṇa). Comm: evaṃ
pañcakāmaguṇasaṅkhātāni pupphāni eva pacinantaṃ ... kāmaguṇe byāsattamanasaṃ naraṃ.
6 Antaka, another name for Māra.
7
An interesting choice of words, implying I think that the muni should not only be harmless, but
also escape engagement in the village.