• Minor Collection Khuddakanikāya
  • Sayings of the Dhamma 146–156 Dhammapada

11. Old Age Jarāvagga

Visākhāyasahāyikānaṁvatthu

What is joy, what is laughter, Ko nu hāso kimānando, when the flames are ever burning? niccaṁ pajjalite sati; Shrouded by darkness, Andhakārena onaddhā, would you not seek a light? padīpaṁ na gavesatha.

Sirimāvatthu

See this fancy puppet, Passa cittakataṁ bimbaṁ, a body built of sores, arukāyaṁ samussitaṁ; diseased, obsessed over, Āturaṁ bahusaṅkappaṁ, in which nothing lasts at all. yassa natthi dhuvaṁ ṭhiti.

Uttarātherīvatthu

This body is decrepit and frail, Parijiṇṇamidaṁ rūpaṁ, a nest of disease. roganīḷaṁ pabhaṅguraṁ; This foul carcass falls apart, Bhijjati pūtisandeho, for life ends in death. maraṇantañhi jīvitaṁ.

Sambahulaadhimānikabhikkhuvatthu

These dove-grey bones Yānimāni apatthāni, are tossed away like alābūneva sārade; dried gourds in the autumn—Kāpotakāni aṭṭhīni, what joy is there in such a sight? tāni disvāna kā rati.

Janapadakalyāṇīrūpanandātherīvatthu

In this city built of bones, Aṭṭhīnaṁ nagaraṁ kataṁ, plastered with flesh and blood, maṁsalohitalepanaṁ; old age and death are stashed away, Yattha jarā ca maccu ca, along with conceit and contempt. māno makkho ca ohito.

Mallikādevīvatthu

Fancy chariots of kings wear out, Jīranti ve rājarathā sucittā, and even this body gets old. Atho sarīrampi jaraṁ upeti; But the truth of the good never gets old—Satañca dhammo na jaraṁ upeti, so the good proclaim to the good. Santo have sabbhi pavedayanti.

Lāḷudāyītheravatthu

A person of little learning Appassutāyaṁ puriso, ages like an ox—balībaddhova jīrati; their flesh grows, Maṁsāni tassa vaḍḍhanti, but not their wisdom. paññā tassa na vaḍḍhati.

Udānavatthu

Transmigrating through countless rebirths, Anekajātisaṁsāraṁ, I’ve journeyed without reward, sandhāvissaṁ anibbisaṁ; searching for the house-builder; Gahakāraṁ gavesanto, painful is birth again and again. dukkhā jāti punappunaṁ.

I’ve seen you, house-builder! Gahakāraka diṭṭhosi, You won’t build a house again! puna gehaṁ na kāhasi; Your rafters are all broken, Sabbā te phāsukā bhaggā, your roof-peak is demolished. gahakūṭaṁ visaṅkhataṁ; My mind, set on demolition, Visaṅkhāragataṁ cittaṁ, has reached the end of craving. taṇhānaṁ khayamajjhagā.

Mahādhanaseṭṭhiputtavatthu

When young they spurned the spiritual path Acaritvā brahmacariyaṁ, and failed to earn any wealth. aladdhā yobbane dhanaṁ; Now they brood like old cranes Jiṇṇakoñcāva jhāyanti, in a pond bereft of fish. khīṇamaccheva pallale.

When young they spurned the spiritual path Acaritvā brahmacariyaṁ, and failed to earn any wealth. aladdhā yobbane dhanaṁ; Now they lie like spent arrows, Senti cāpātikhīṇāva, bemoaning over things past. purāṇāni anutthunaṁ.

Jarāvaggo ekādasamo.