Theragāthā 189

Verses of the Senior Monks 4.4

The Book of the Fours

Chapter One

Nandaka (2nd)

1 Curse you mortal frame, you stink!

You’re on Māra’s side, you fester!

O body, you have nine streams

that are flowing all the time.

2 Don’t think much of mortal frames;

don’t disparage the Realized Ones.

They’re not even aroused by heaven,

let alone by humans.

3 But those who are fools and simpletons,

with bad advisors, wrapped in delusion,

that kind of person is aroused by bodies,

when Māra has laid down the snare.

4 Those in whom greed, hate, and ignorance

have faded away;

such people are not aroused by bodies,

they’ve cut the strings, unbound.