“What is declared the deviant path?
What undergoes destruction night and day?
What is the stain of the holy life?
What is the bath without water?”“Lust is declared the deviant path;
Life undergoes destruction night and day;
Women are the stain of the holy life:
Here menfolk are enmeshed.
Austerity and the holy life—
That is the bath without water.”
sn.1.58 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)
The Deviant Path
- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi
- Editor: Blake Walsh
Deviation
“What’s declared to be a deviation?What is ending day and night?
What’s the stain of celibacy?
What’s the waterless bath?”
“Lust is declared to be a deviation.
Youth is ending day and night.
Women are the stain of celibacy,
to which this generation clings.
Austerity and celibacy
are the waterless bath.”