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Dhammapada 146–156

Jarāvagga

11. Old Age · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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whatKo indeednu laughterhāso what joykimānando,
continuallyniccaṁ burningpajjalite whensati;
by darknessAndhakārena swathedonaddhā,
a lightpadīpaṁ notna would you seekgavesatha.

seePassa fancycittakataṁ puppetbimbaṁ,
built of soresarukāyaṁ built upsamussitaṁ;
diseasedĀturaṁ obsessed overbahusaṅkappaṁ,
of whichyassa there is notnatthi lastingdhuvaṁ stabilityṭhiti.

worn out is thisParijiṇṇamidaṁ bodyrūpaṁ,
a nest of diseaseroganīḷaṁ frailpabhaṅguraṁ;
it breaks apartBhijjati foul carcasspūtisandeho,
ends in death, formaraṇantañhi lifejīvitaṁ.

these whichYānimāni tossed awayapatthāni,
like dried gourdsalābūneva in the autumnsārade;
dove-greyKāpotakāni bonesaṭṭhīni,
thosetāni having seendisvāna whatkā joyrati.

of bonesAṭṭhīnaṁ citynagaraṁ madekataṁ,
plastered with flesh and bloodmaṁsalohitalepanaṁ;
whereYattha old agejarā andca deathmaccu andca,
conceitmāno contemptmakkho andca stashed awayohito.

they wear outJīranti indeedve royal chariotsrājarathā fancysucittā,
and thenAtho even the bodysarīrampi old agejaraṁ it goes toupeti;
but of the goodSatañca the truthdhammo notna old agejaraṁ it goes toupeti,
the goodSanto indeedhave to the goodsabbhi they proclaimpavedayanti.

of little learningAppassutāyaṁ personpuriso,
like an oxbalībaddhova agesjīrati;
fleshMaṁsāni histassa growvaḍḍhanti,
wisdompaññā histassa notna growsvaḍḍhati.

through countless rebirths' wanderingAnekajātisaṁsāraṁ,
I have journeyedsandhāvissaṁ without rewardanibbisaṁ;
the house-builderGahakāraṁ searching forgavesanto,
painfuldukkhā is birthjāti again and againpunappunaṁ.

house-builder!Gahakāraka you are seendiṭṭhosi,
againpuna a housegehaṁ notna you will makekāhasi;
allSabbā yourte raftersphāsukā brokenbhaggā,
the roof-peakgahakūṭaṁ demolishedvisaṅkhataṁ;
set on demolitionVisaṅkhāragataṁ the mindcittaṁ,
of cravingstaṇhānaṁ has reached the endkhayamajjhagā.

not having livedAcaritvā the holy lifebrahmacariyaṁ,
not having obtainedaladdhā in youthyobbane wealthdhanaṁ;
like old cranesJiṇṇakoñcāva they broodjhāyanti,
bereft of fishkhīṇamaccheva in a pondpallale.

not having livedAcaritvā the holy life,brahmacariyaṁ,
not having gainedaladdhā in youthyobbane wealth;dhanaṁ;
they lieSenti like shot arrows,cāpātikhīṇāva,
things pastpurāṇāni bemoaning.anutthunaṁ.
the Old Age chapterJarāvaggo the eleventh.ekādasamo.

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