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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 fancy·madecittakataṁ puppetbimbaṁ,
built of soresarukāyaṁ built upsamussitaṁ;
diseasedĀturaṁ obsessed overbahusaṅkappaṁ,
of whichyassa there is notnatthi lastingdhuvaṁ stabilityṭhiti.

worn out + thisParijiṇṇamidaṁ bodyrūpaṁ,
disease·nestroganīḷaṁ forth·breakablepabhaṅguraṁ;
it breaks apartBhijjati foul·carcasspūtisandeho,
ending 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,
flesh·blood·plastermaṁsalohitalepanaṁ;
whereYattha old agejarā andca deathmaccu andca,
conceitmāno contemptmakkho andca stashed awayohito.

they wear outJīranti indeedve king·chariotrājarathā well·paintedsucittā,
and thenAtho body + evensarīrampi old agejaraṁ it goes toupeti;
good + butSatañca the truthdhammo notna old agejaraṁ it goes toupeti,
the goodSanto indeedhave to the goodsabbhi forth·knowpavedayanti.

of little learningAppassutāyaṁ personpuriso,
ox·likebalībaddhova agesjīrati;
fleshMaṁsāni histassa growvaḍḍhanti,
wisdompaññā histassa notna growsvaḍḍhati.

many·birth·wanderingAnekajātisaṁsāraṁ,
I have journeyedsandhāvissaṁ without rewardanibbisaṁ;
the house-builderGahakāraṁ searching forgavesanto,
painfuldukkhā is birthjāti again and againpunappunaṁ.

house·builderGahakāraka you are seendiṭṭhosi,
againpuna a housegehaṁ notna you will makekāhasi;
allSabbā yourte raftersphāsukā brokenbhaggā,
the roof-peakgahakūṭaṁ demolishedvisaṅkhataṁ;
demolition·goneVisaṅkhāragataṁ the mindcittaṁ,
of cravingstaṇhānaṁ end + attainedkhayamajjhagā.

not·liveAcaritvā the holy lifebrahmacariyaṁ,
not·obtainaladdhā in youthyobbane wealthdhanaṁ;
old·crane·likeJiṇṇakoñcāva they broodjhāyanti,
bereft of fishkhīṇamaccheva in a pondpallale.

not·livedAcaritvā holy·lifebrahmacariyaṁ,
not·gainedaladdhā in youthyobbane wealth;dhanaṁ;
they lieSenti like shot arrows,cāpātikhīṇāva,
things pastpurāṇāni bemoaning.anutthunaṁ.
old age·chapterJarāvaggo the eleventh.ekādasamo.

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