See this body beautiful
a mass of sores, a congeries,
much considered but miserable
where nothing’s stable, nothing persists.
Explanation: This body has no permanent existence. It is in fact a body of sores. It is diseased. It is propped up by many kinds of bones. It is considered by many to be good. It is well thought of by many. It is glamorously made up. Observe the true nature of the body.
The Story of Sirima (Verse 147)
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse, with reference to Sirima the courtesan.
Once, there lived in Rajagaha, a very beautiful courtesan by the name of Sirima. Every day Sirima offered alms-food to eight monks. One of these monks happened to mention to other monks how beautiful Sirima was and also that she offered very delicious food to the monks every day. On hearing this, a young monk fell in love with Sirima even without seeing her. The next day, the young monk went with the other monks to the house of Sirima. Sirima was not well on that day, but since she wanted to pay obeisance to the monks, she was carried to the presence of the monks. The young monk, seeing Sirima, thought to himself, “Even though she is sick, she is very beautiful!” And he felt a strong desire for her.
That very night, Sirima died. King Bimbisara went to the Buddha and reported to him that “Sirima, the sister of Jivaka, had died. The Buddha told King Bimbisara to take the dead body to the cemetery and keep it there for three days without burying it, but to have it protected from crows and vultures. The king did as he was told. On the fourth day, the dead body of the beautiful Sirima was no longer beautiful or desirable; it got bloated and maggots came out of the nine orifices. On that day, the Buddha took his monks to the cemetery to observe the body of Sirima. The king also came with his men. The young monk, who was so desperately in love with Sirima, did not know that Sirima had died. When he learnt that the Buddha and the monks were going to see Sirima, he joined them. At the cemetery, the corpse of Sirima was surrounded by the monks headed by the Buddha, and also by the king and his men.
The Buddha, surrounded by the congregation of monks, stood on one side of the corpse; the congregation of nuns and the king’s retinue and the company of lay disciples, both male and female, stood on the other side of the corpse, each company in its proper place. The Buddha then asked the king, “Great king, who is this woman?” “Venerable, it is Jivaka’s sister Sirima.”
“Is this Sirima?” “Yes, Venerable.” “Well! Send a drum through the town and make proclamation, ‘Those who will pay a thousand pieces of money for Sirima may have her’. Not a man said ‘hem’ or ‘hum’. The king brought down the price to a penny, then to a half-penny, then to a quarter of a penny, then to an eighth of a penny. At last he proclaimed to the beating of a drum, “They may have her for nothing.” Not a man said ‘hem’ or ‘hum’. Then said the king to the Buddha, “Venerable, no one will take her, even as a gift.” The Buddha replied, “Monks, you see the value of a woman in the eyes of the multitude. In this very city men used to pay a thousand pieces of money for the privilege of spending one night with this woman. Now there is no one who will take her as a gift. Such was her beauty which had perished and gone. Behold, monks, this body diseased and corrupt.”