[213] "And what, Mahānāma, is the drawback (ādīnava) of sensual pleasures (kāma)? Here, Mahānāma, a clansman (kulaputta) makes his living by whatever craft — whether by finger-reckoning, by accounting, by calculation, by farming, by trade, by cattle-herding, by archery, by royal service, or by some craft or other — exposed to cold, exposed to heat, afflicted by contact with gadflies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and creeping creatures, risking death from hunger and thirst. This too, Mahānāma, is a drawback of sensual pleasures apparent here and now, a mass of suffering (dukkha), with sensual pleasures as its cause, sensual pleasures as its source, sensual pleasures as its basis — the cause being simply sensual pleasures.
If, Mahānāma, while that clansman thus exerts himself, strives, and endeavors, those riches do not come to hand, he sorrows, is wearied, laments, beats his breast, wails, and falls into confusion: 'In vain, alas, was my exertion; fruitless, alas, was my endeavor!' This too, Mahānāma, is a drawback of sensual pleasures apparent here and now, a mass of suffering, with sensual pleasures as its cause, sensual pleasures as its source, sensual pleasures as its basis — the cause being simply sensual pleasures.
If, Mahānāma, while that clansman thus exerts himself, strives, and endeavors, those riches do come to hand, he experiences suffering and grief on account of guarding them: 'How may kings not carry off my riches, nor thieves carry them off, nor fire burn them, nor water sweep them away, nor unloved heirs carry them off?' While he thus guards and protects them, kings carry off those riches, or thieves carry them off, or fire burns them, or water sweeps them away, or unloved heirs carry them off. He sorrows, is wearied, laments, beats his breast, wails, and falls into confusion: 'What was mine is no more!' This too, Mahānāma, is a drawback of sensual pleasures apparent here and now, a mass of suffering, with sensual pleasures as its cause, sensual pleasures as its source, sensual pleasures as its basis — the cause being simply sensual pleasures."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.