They are like a child who tries to eat a little
honey smeared on the edge of a knife. The
amotmt is by no means sufficient to appease his
appetite, but he runs the risk of wounding his
tongue."

(23) The Buddha said: "Men are tied up to
their families and possessions more helplessly
than in a prison. There is an occasion for the
prisoner to be released, but householders enter-
tain no desire to be relieved from the ties of
family. When a man's passion is aroused noth-
ing prevents him from ruining himself. Even
into the maws of a tiger will he jump. Those
who are thus drowned in the filth of passion are
called the ignorant. Those who are able to
overcome it are saintly Arhats."

(24) The Buddha said : " There is nothing like
lust. Lust may be said to be the most powerful
passion. Fortunately, we have but one thing
which is more powerful. If the thirst for truth
were weaker than passion, how many of us in the
world would be able to follow the way of right-
eousness?"

(25) The Buddha said: "Men who are
addicted to the passions are like the torch-
carrier running against the wind; his hands are
sure to be burned."

(26) The Lord of Heaven offered a beautiful
fairy to the Buddha, desiring to tempt him to the
evil path. But the Buddha said, "Be gone.
THE SUTRA OF FORTY-TWO CHAPTERS 1 5

What use have I for the leather bag filled with
filth which you have brought to me?" Then,
the god reverently bowed and asked the Buddha
about the essence of the Way, in which having
been instructed by the Buddha, it is said, he
attained the SrotaS,panna-fruit.
