SN 2.6

Kāmadasutta

Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho kāmado devaputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “dukkaraṁ, bhagavā, sudukkaraṁ, bhagavā”ti.

With Kāmada

At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, the godling Kāmada said to the Buddha, “It’s too hard, Blessed One! It’s just too hard!”

“Dukkaraṁ vāpi karonti, (kāmadāti bhagavā) Sekhā sīlasamāhitā; Ṭhitattā anagāriyupetassa, Tuṭṭhi hoti sukhāvahā”ti.

“They do it even though it’s hard,” said the Buddha to Kāmada, “the stable trainees with ethics, and immersion. For one who has entered the homeless life, contentment brings happiness.”

“Dullabhā, bhagavā, yadidaṁ tuṭṭhī”ti.

“Such contentment, Blessed One, is hard to find.”

“Dullabhaṁ vāpi labhanti, (kāmadāti bhagavā) Cittavūpasame ratā; Yesaṁ divā ca ratto ca, Bhāvanāya rato mano”ti.

“They find it even though it’s hard,” said the Buddha to Kāmada, “those who love to settle the mind; whose minds love to meditate day and night.”

“Dussamādahaṁ, bhagavā, yadidaṁ cittan”ti.

“But it’s hard, Blessed One, to immerse this mind in samādhi.”

“Dussamādahaṁ vāpi samādahanti, (kāmadāti bhagavā) Indriyūpasame ratā; Te chetvā maccuno jālaṁ, Ariyā gacchanti kāmadā”ti.

“They become immersed in samādhi even though it’s hard,” said the Buddha to Kāmada, “those who love calming the faculties. Having cut through the net of Death, the noble ones, Kāmada, go on their way.”

“Duggamo, bhagavā, visamo maggo”ti.

“But this path, Blessed One, is rough and hard to travel.”

“Duggame visame vāpi, Ariyā gacchanti kāmada; Anariyā visame magge, Papatanti avaṁsirā; Ariyānaṁ samo maggo, Ariyā hi visame samā”ti.

“Though it’s rough, hard to travel, the noble ones, Kāmada, go on their way. The ignoble fall headfirst on a rough path. But the path of the noble ones is smooth, for the noble ones are smooth amid the rough.”