Udāna 6: Jaccandhavaggo
The Chapter (including the Discourse) about the Congenitally Blind
9: The Discourse about (Running) Beyond
Thus I heard:
at one time the Fortunate One was dwelling near Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Wood, at Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Then at that time the Fortunate One, in the darkness and dullness of the night, was sitting in the open air, while the oil-lamps were burning. Then at that time many moths rushing and falling down into those oil lamps, were coming to grief, were coming to ruin.
The Fortunate One saw those many moths (who), rushing and falling down into those oil lamps, were coming to grief, were coming to ruin.
Then the Fortunate One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:
“They run beyond, not coming to the essential,
They cause new and fresh bonds to increase,
Like moths that fall into the lamp,
Some have settled thus on what is seen (or) heard.”