Pañcarājasutta

Suttapiṭaka · Saṁyuttanikāya · Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta · Vol. 15 · Section 359

[359] The Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī. ... Now on that occasion five kings, with King Pasenadi at their head, being supplied and endowed with the five cords of sensual pleasure (kāmaguṇa), were amusing themselves with them, when this conversation arose among them: "What, indeed, is the chief of sensual pleasures (kāma)?" Among them, some spoke thus: "Forms are the chief of sensual pleasures." Some spoke thus: "Sounds are the chief of sensual pleasures." Some spoke thus: "Odors are the chief of sensual pleasures." Some spoke thus: "Tastes are the chief of sensual pleasures." Some spoke thus: "Tangibles (phoṭṭhabba) are the chief of sensual pleasures." Since those kings were unable to convince one another, King Pasenadi of Kosala said this to those kings: "Come, dear sirs, let us go to the Blessed One; having approached him, we shall question the Blessed One about this matter. As the Blessed One answers us, so shall we bear it in mind." "So be it, dear sir," those kings replied to King Pasenadi of Kosala.

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.