[377] "Vāseṭṭha, suppose this river Aciravatī were full of water, brimming level with its banks, so that a crow could drink from it. Then a man should come along, wanting the far shore, seeking the far shore, bound for the far shore, desiring to cross to the far shore; and on this near bank he were bound tightly, his arms pinioned behind his back with a strong rope. What do you think, Vāseṭṭha — could that man go from the near bank of the river Aciravatī to the far bank?"
"No indeed, Venerable Gotama."
"Even so, Vāseṭṭha, these five cords of sensual pleasure (kāmaguṇā) are called 'shackles' (addu) and are also called 'bonds' (bandhana) in the discipline of the Noble One. What five? Forms cognizable by the eye that are wished for, desirable, agreeable, endearing, connected with sensuality, provocative of lust; sounds cognizable by the ear …; odors cognizable by the nose; tastes cognizable by the tongue; tangibles cognizable by the body that are wished for, desirable, agreeable, endearing, connected with sensuality, provocative of lust. These five cords of sensual pleasure, Vāseṭṭha, are called 'shackles' and are also called 'bonds' in the discipline of the Noble One. These five cords of sensual pleasure, Vāseṭṭha, the brahmins versed in the three Vedas enjoy — tied to them, infatuated, addicted, not seeing the danger in them, without the wisdom of escape. And those brahmins versed in the three Vedas, Vāseṭṭha, proceeding having abandoned those qualities that make one a brahmin, and proceeding having undertaken those qualities that make one not a brahmin, enjoy the five cords of sensual pleasure — tied to them, infatuated, addicted, not seeing the danger in them, without the wisdom of escape, bound by sensual desire — that they, at the breaking up of the body, after death, will attain to companionship with Brahmā: this is not possible."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.