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1.21. A Sword

At Savatthi. Standing to one side, that devatā recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:

ā€œAs if smitten by a sword,
As if his head were on fire,
A bhikkhu should wander mindfully
To abandon sensual lust.ā€

The Blessed One:

ā€œAs if smitten by a sword,
As if his head were on fire,
A bhikkhu should wander mindfully
To abandon identity view.ā€