Even with a rain of gold coins, sensual desires are not satisfied. Desires are of little pleasure and painful — thus understands the wise one.

Na kahāpaṇavassena — not even with a rain of gold coins: kahāpaṇa was the gold coin of ancient India. Vassa is rain. Even a rain of gold — unlimited wealth — would not satisfy sensual desires. The image is hyperbolic to underline the insatiability of desire.

Titti kāmesu vijjati — is satisfaction found in desires: titti is full satisfaction. The statement is that this full satisfaction does not exist when one seeks it in sense objects. It is not that pleasures are bad but that they are incapable of producing satiety.

Appassādā dukhā kāmā — desires are of little pleasure and painful: appassāda is of little satisfaction. The kāma (sensual pleasures) promise much and deliver little. Their enjoyment is ephemeral but their pursuit is compulsive.

Iti viññāya paṇḍito — thus understands the wise one: understanding the insatiable nature of desire is one of the fundamental insights of the path. It does not require heroic asceticism but simply honest observation of one’s own experience.