Version 1
Like a water creature
Plucked from its watery home and thrown on land,
This mind flaps;
[Fit] to discard [is] Mara’s sway.
Version 2
Like a fish
pulled from its home in the water
& thrown on land:
this mind flips & flaps about
to escape Mara’s sway.
Version 3
As a fish when pulled out of water and cast on land throbs and quivers, even so is this mind agitated. Hence should one abandon the realm of Mara.
Reflection
Discarding, escaping, abandoning:
How much more flipping & flapping?
The mind’s home is no home –
It laughs in the ocean and shouts on the land.
(Note: Version 1 is from the John Ross Carter and Mahinda Palihawadana translation. Version 2 is from the Thanissaro Bhikkhu translation. Version 3 is from the Acharya Buddharakkhita translation.)
