Dhp Vagga 11 - Jara - Aging

Khuddakanikāya Minor Collection

Dhammapada Sayings of the Dhamma 146–156

Jarāvagga 11. Old Age

Ko nu hāso kimānando, What is joy, what is laughter,

niccaṁ pajjalite sati; when the flames are ever burning?

Andhakārena onaddhā, Shrouded by darkness,

padīpaṁ na gavesatha. would you not seek a light?

Passa cittakataṁ bimbaṁ, See this fancy puppet,

arukāyaṁ samussitaṁ; a body built of sores,

Āturaṁ bahusaṅkappaṁ, diseased, obsessed over,

yassa natthi dhuvaṁ ṭhiti. in which nothing lasts at all.

Parijiṇṇamidaṁ rūpaṁ, This body is decrepit and frail,

roganīḷaṁ pabhaṅguraṁ; a nest of disease.

Bhijjati pūtisandeho, This foul carcass falls apart,

maraṇantañhi jīvitaṁ. for life ends in death.

Yānimāni apatthāni, These dove-grey bones

alābūneva sārade; are tossed away like

Kāpotakāni aṭṭhīni, dried gourds in the autumn—

tāni disvāna kā rati. what joy is there in such a sight?

Aṭṭhīnaṁ nagaraṁ kataṁ, In this city built of bones,

maṁsalohitalepanaṁ; plastered with flesh and blood,

Yattha jarā ca maccu ca, old age and death are stashed away,

māno makkho ca ohito. along with conceit and contempt.

Jīranti ve rājarathā sucittā, Fancy chariots of kings wear out,

Atho sarīrampi jaraṁ upeti; and even this body gets old.

Satañca dhammo na jaraṁ upeti, But the truth of the good never gets old—

Santo have sabbhi pavedayanti. so the good proclaim to the good.

Appassutāyaṁ puriso, A person of little learning

balībaddhova jīrati; ages like an ox—

Maṁsāni tassa vaḍḍhanti, their flesh grows,

paññā tassa na vaḍḍhati. but not their wisdom.

Anekajātisaṁsāraṁ, Transmigrating through countless rebirths,

sandhāvissaṁ anibbisaṁ; I’ve journeyed without reward,

Gahakāraṁ gavesanto, searching for the house-builder;

dukkhā jāti punappunaṁ. painful is birth again and again.

Gahakāraka diṭṭhosi, I’ve seen you, house-builder!

puna gehaṁ na kāhasi; You won’t build a house again!

Sabbā te phāsukā bhaggā, Your rafters are all broken,

gahakūṭaṁ visaṅkhataṁ; your roof-peak demolished.

Visaṅkhāragataṁ cittaṁ, The mind, set on demolition,

taṇhānaṁ khayamajjhagā. has reached the end of cravings.

Acaritvā brahmacariyaṁ, When young they spurned the spiritual path

aladdhā yobbane dhanaṁ; and failed to earn any wealth.

Jiṇṇakoñcāva jhāyanti, Now they brood like old cranes

khīṇamaccheva pallale. in a pond bereft of fish.

Acaritvā brahmacariyaṁ, When young they spurned the spiritual path

aladdhā yobbane dhanaṁ; and failed to earn any wealth.

Senti cāpātikhīṇāva, Now they lie like spent arrows,

purāṇāni anutthunaṁ. bemoaning over things past.