Desire is not satisfied by pleasures; pursuit of desire is mortal. Humans abandon thirst and greed.

Neti kāmo kāmānaṁ — desire does not satisfy desires. Each satisfaction generates new desire. It is the mechanism of hunger: eating does not eliminate future hunger.

Anuyogo hi māriyā — pursuing desire is mortal. It is not poetic exaggeration: unsatisfied thirst generates states of existence that literally kill.