Old Age
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11 Verses | Page 1 / 1
(John Richards version)


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(Ⅰ)
(Ⅱ)
(Ⅴ)


11. 146  
What is this laughter, what is this delight, forever burning (with desires) as you are? Enveloped in darkness as you are, will you not look for a lamp?
- Why laugh, why be jubilant, when all is constantly burning (with desires)? Should you not seek the light of wisdom when you are enveloped by the darkness of ignorance? (Ⅰ)
- ko nu haaso kim aanando nichchaM pajjalite sati
andha-kaarena onaddhaa padiipaM na gavesatha.
(Ⅴ)
11. 147  
Look at the decorated puppet, a mass of wounds and of composite parts, full of disease and always in need of attention. It has no enduring stability.
- Behold this illusory human image, embellished (by rich attire and jewels), full of corruptions, a structure of bones, liable to constant illness, full of countless hankerings, in which there is nothing permanent or stable. (Ⅰ)
- passa chitta-kataM bimbaM aru-kaayaM samussitaM
aaturaM bahu-sankappaM yassa n'atthi dhuvaM Thiti.
(Ⅴ)
11. 148  
This body is worn out with age, a nest of diseases and falling apart. The mass of corruption disintegrates, and death is the end of life.
- This frail form is a nest of diseases. It is fragile and putrid. It disintegrates and death is the end of life. (Ⅰ)
- pari jiNNam idaM ruupaM roga-niiLaM pabhanguraM
bhijjati puuti-sandeho maraN-antaM hi jiivitaM.
(Ⅴ)
11. 149  
When these grey bones are cast aside like gourds in autumn, what pleasure will there be in looking at them?
- These dove-grey bones are like unto the gourds thrown away in the autumnal season. What pleasure is there in looking at them? (Ⅰ)
- yaan'imaani apatthaani alaabun'eva saarade
kaapotakaani aTThiini taani disvaana kaa rati.
(Ⅴ)
11. 150  
It is a city built of bones, and daubed with flesh and blood, in which old age and death, pride and hypocrisy are the inhabitants.
- Here is a citadel built of bones, plastered with flesh and blood, wherein are concealed decay, death, vanity and deceit. (Ⅰ)
- aTThiinaM nagaraM kataM maMsa-lohita-lepanaM
yattha jaraa cha machchu cha maano makkho cha ohito.
(Ⅴ)
11. 151  
Even kings' splendid carriages wear out, and the body is certain bound to grow old, but the Truth found by the saints is not subject to aging. That is what the saints themselves proclaim.
- The gaily decorated royal chariots wear out. So likewise does this body. But the truth of the righteous does not wear out with age. Thus do the enlightened proclaim it to the wise. (Ⅰ)
- jiiranti ve raaja-rathaa suchittaa atho sariiram pi jaraM upeti
sataM cha dhammo na jaraM upeti santo ha've sabbhi pavedayanti.
(Ⅴ)
11. 152  
An ignorant man ages like an ox. His flesh may increase, but not his understanding.
- The man of little spiritual learning grows like an ox; his flesh increases, but his wisdom does not. (Ⅰ)
- appa-ssut'aayaM puriso balivaddo va jiirati
maMsaani tassa vaDDhanti paññaa tassa na vaDDhati.
(Ⅴ)
11. 153  
I have passed in ignorance through a cycle of many rebirths, seeking the builder of the house. Continuous rebirth is a painful thing.
- For countless births have I passed through this cycle of births and deaths, seeking the builder of this tabernacle, but in vain. Sorrowful indeed is this cyclic repetition of births. (Ⅰ)
- aneka-jaati-saMsaaraM sandhaavissaM anibbisaM
gaha-kaaraM gavesanto dukkhaa jaati puna-ppunaM.
(Ⅴ)
11. 154  
But now, housebuilder, I have found you out. You will not build me a house again. All your rafters are broken, your ridge-pole shattered. My mind is free from active thought, and has made an end of craving.
- O builder of the house, I have seen you; you shall not build the house again. All the rafters are broken; the ridgepole is sundered. Mind has arrived at dissolution (nirvana), having attained the extinction of all cravings (tanha). (Ⅰ)
- gaha-kaaraka diTTho'si puna gehaM na kaahasi
sabbaa te phaasukaa bhaggaa gaha-kuuTaM visankhataM
visankhaara-gataM chittaM taNhaanaM khayam ajjhagaa.
(Ⅴ)
11. 155  
Those who have not lived the holy life, and have not acquired wealth in their youth, grow old like withered cranes beside a fishless pool.
- Those who do not practice self-discipline, who do not acquire wealth in their youth, when they become old, pine away, like old herons in a dried-up lake where there are no fish. (Ⅰ)
- acharitvaa brahma-chariyaM aladdhaa yobbane dhanaM
jiNNa-koñchaa va jhaayanti khiiNa-machchhe va pallale.
(Ⅴ)
11. 156  
Those who have not lived the holy life, and have not acquired wealth in their youth, lie like spent arrows, grieving for times past.
- Those who do not practice self-discipline, who do not acquire wealth in their youth, lie like broken arrows, lamenting the deeds of the past. (Ⅰ)
- acharitvaa brahma-chariyaM aladdhaa yobbane dhanaM
senti chaap'aatikhiiNaa va puraaNaani anutthunaM.
(Ⅴ)


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