Adorned with jewelry and all dressed up,
with her garland and her makeup on,
and her feet so brightly rouged:
the courtesan was wearing sandals.
Stepping off her sandals in front of me,
her palms joined in greeting,
smiling, she spoke to me
so softly and so sweet:
“You’re too young to go forth—
come, stay in my teaching!
Enjoy human sensual pleasures,
I’ll give you riches.
I promise this is the truth—
I swear it by the Sacred Flame.
And when we’ve grown old together,
both of us leaning on staffs,
we shall both go forth,
and hold a perfect hand on both counts.”
I saw the courtesan seducing me,
her palms joined in greeting,
adorned with jewelry and all dressed up,
like a snare of death laid down.
Then the realization
came upon me—
the danger became clear
and I grew firmly disillusioned.
Then my mind was freed—
see the excellence of the Dhamma!
I’ve attained the three knowledges,
and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.