Nāgavagga · The Elephant · Gāthā 331
Yo Sikhanti pasaṁsanti, na tassa yathā-pi muñjaṁ; Iti-pi yo mucchati kāme, anto sāre anūpayha.
Yo sikhanti pasaṁsanti, na tassa yathā-pi muñjaṁ; iti-pi yo mucchati kāme, anto sāre anūpayha.
Those who know praise this, not like muñja grass; whoever becomes intoxicated in pleasures finds the core outside.
Mucchati kāme — becomes intoxicated, infatuated in pleasures. Intoxication is not only from wine, it is that which desire produces when we see something pleasant.
Anto sāre — the core, the essence. One who seeks essence externally (anūpayha — submerged) never finds it, because essence is in understanding, not in the object.