Deep Commentary

This verse was spoken regarding Prince Bodhi, who deeply desired a child. He spread a carpet for the Buddha, secretly vowing that if the Buddha stepped on it, he would be blessed with offspring. The Buddha, knowing his past, refused. He explained that in a previous life, Bodhi and his wife had eaten bird eggs and nestlings to survive on an island, and this bad karma caused their current childlessness. The Buddha taught that to truly love oneself is to protect oneself from committing unwholesome deeds across the 'three watches' (the stages of life: youth, middle age, and old age). A wise person looks ahead, understanding that present actions shape future outcomes. True self-love is ensuring one's moral conduct remains pure, bringing peace rather than sorrow in the future.