Five Chains
26. ‘Just, Vâsettha, as if this river Akiravatî were full, even to the brim, and overflowing. And a man with business on the other side, making for the other side, bound for the other side, should come up, and want to cross over. And he, on this bank, were to be bound tightly, with his arms behind his back, by a strong chain. Now what think you, Vâsettha, would that man be able to get over from this bank of the river Akiravatî to the further bank?’
‘Certainly not, Gotama!’
27. ‘In the same way, Vâsettha, there are five things leading to lust, which are called, in the Discipline of the Arahats, a “chain” and a “bond.”‘
‘What are the five?’
‘Forms perceptible to the eye; desirable, agreeable, pleasant, attractive forms, that are accompanied by lust and cause delight. Sounds of the same kind perceptible to the ear. Odours of the same kind perceptible to the nose. Tastes of the same kind perceptible to the tongue. Substances of the same kind perceptible to the body by touch. These five things predisposing to passion are called, in the Discipline of the Arahats, a “chain” and a “bond.” And these five things predisposing to lust, Vâsettha, do the Brahmans versed in the Three Vedas cling to, they are infatuated by them, attached to them, see not the danger of them, know not how unreliable they are, and so enjoy them.’
From the Tevigga Sutta, Dialogues of the Buddha {The Dîgha-Nikâya}
Translated from the Pâli by T. W. Rhys Davids
London, H. Frowde, Oxford University Press [1899]
Vol. II of The Sacred Books of the Buddhists
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/dob/dob-13tx.htm