At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that devatā recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
"As if smitten by a sword,
As if his head were on fire,
A bhikkhu should wander mindfully
To abandon sensual lust."
[The Blessed One:]
As if smitten by a sword,
As if his head were on fire,
A bhikkhu should wander mindfully
To abandon identity view."
- SN 1.21
Since sensual lust (kāmarāga) is abandoned by the third path - through attaining the third stage of the four stages of enlightenment (Anāgāmi), and identity view (sakkāyadiṭṭhi) is abandoned by the first path - through attaining the first stage of enlightenment by achieving stream entry (Sotāpanna); the devatā seems to be advocating for a higher attainment than the Buddha (sensual lust vs. identity view). Still, full liberation is not achieved through the deva's way of abandoning sensual lust because the deva spoke his verse in reference to abandoning sensual lust temporarily through suppression by the attainment of jhāna. The Buddha recommends the attainment of stream entry because it eliminates identity view by way of eradication, so even the slightest tendency is eliminated, leading to full liberation in maximum of seven lives.
