Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso ādittaṁ tiṇukkaṁ sukkhe tiṇadāye nikkhipeyya; no ce hatthehi ca pādehi ca khippameva nibbāpeyya. Evañhi, bhikkhave, ye tiṇakaṭṭhanissitā pāṇā te anayabyasanaṁ āpajjeyyuṁ.
Suppose a person was to drop a burning torch in a thicket of dry grass. If they don’t quickly extinguish it with their hands and feet, the creatures living in the grass and wood would come to ruin.
Evameva kho, bhikkhave, yo hi koci samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā uppannaṁ visamagataṁ saññaṁ na khippameva pajahati vinodeti byantīkaroti anabhāvaṁ gameti, so diṭṭhe ceva dhamme dukkhaṁ viharati savighātaṁ saupāyāsaṁ sapariḷāhaṁ;
In the same way, a corrupt perception might arise in an ascetic or brahmin. If they don’t quickly give it up, get rid of it, eliminate it, and obliterate it, they’ll suffer in the present life, with distress, anguish, and fever.