Dhammapada 336

From one who overcomes this wretched craving, hard to cross beyond in the world, sorrows fall away…

From one who overcomes this wretched craving, hard to cross beyond in the world, sorrows fall away like a drop of water from a lotus.

Translated from the Pāli by Banya

In plain words

Craving is described as difficult to overcome. The lotus image depicts sorrow falling away from someone who has overcome it, rather than promising that a brief pause removes every sorrow.

Key words

taṇhā

craving — The image concerns overcoming it, not momentarily distracting oneself.

The story behind the verse

Redfish

In the commentary, in a former life, Kapila was a learned monk who became proud and insulted others, and the commentary says his conduct led to painful rebirth and later to life as a fish. Fishermen caught the fish with golden-colored scales, and they brought it to the king, who took it to the Buddha. When the fish opened its mouth, a terrible smell emerged, and the Buddha connected its beautiful appearance with its teaching of the Dhamma and its foul breath with abusive conduct. The fish acknowledged its identity, and the Buddha taught the gathered listeners about craving and the sorrow that follows it.

Retold by Banya from the traditional commentary, after E. W. Burlingame, Buddhist Legends (1921).

Explanation by Banya. Traditional readings vary.