• Anthology of Discourses 4.6 Sutta Nipāta 4.6

Old Age Jarāsutta

Short, alas, is this life; Appaṁ vata jīvitaṁ idaṁ, you die before a hundred years. Oraṁ vassasatāpi miyyati; Even if you live a little longer, Yo cepi aticca jīvati, you still die of old age. Atha kho so jarasāpi miyyati.

People grieve over belongings, Socanti janā mamāyite, yet there is no such thing as permanent possessions. Na hi santi niccā pariggahā; Separation is a fact of life; when you see this, Vinābhāvasantamevidaṁ, you wouldn’t stay living at home. Iti disvā nāgāramāvase.

Whatever a person thinks of as belonging to them, Maraṇenapi taṁ pahÄ«yati, that too is given up when they die. Yaṁ puriso mamidanti maƱƱati; Knowing this, an astute follower of mine Etampi viditvā paį¹‡įøito, would not be bent on ownership. Na mamattāya nametha māmako.

Just as, upon awakening, a person does not see Supinena yathāpi saį¹…gataṁ, what they encountered in a dream; Paį¹­ibuddho puriso na passati; so too you do not see your loved ones Evampi piyāyitaṁ janaṁ, when they are dead and gone. Petaṁ kālaį¹…kataṁ na passati.

You used to see and hear those folk, Diį¹­į¹­hāpi sutāpi te janā, and call them by their name. Yesaṁ nāmamidaṁ pavuccati; Yet the name is all that’s left to tell Nāmaṁyevāvasissati, of a personage when they’re gone. Akkheyyaṁ petassa jantuno.

Those who are greedy for belongings Sokapparidevamaccharaṁ, don’t give up sorrow, lamentation, and stinginess. Na jahanti giddhā mamāyite; That’s why the sages, seers of sanctuary, Tasmā munayo pariggahaṁ, left possessions behind and wandered. Hitvā acariṁsu khemadassino.

For a mendicant who lives withdrawn, PatilÄ«nacarassa bhikkhuno, frequenting a secluded seat, Bhajamānassa vivittamāsanaṁ; they say it’s fitting Sāmaggiyamāhu tassa taṁ, to not show themselves in a home. Yo attānaṁ bhavane na dassaye.

The sage is independent everywhere, Sabbattha munÄ« anissito, they don’t form likes or dislikes. Na piyaṁ kubbati nopi appiyaṁ; Lamentation and stinginess Tasmiṁ paridevamaccharaṁ, slip off them like water from a leaf. Paṇṇe vāri yathā na limpati.

Like a droplet slips from a lotus-leaf, Udabindu yathāpi pokkhare, like water from a lotus flower; Padume vāri yathā na limpati; the sage doesn’t cling to that Evaṁ muni nopalimpati, which is seen or heard or thought. Yadidaṁ diį¹­į¹­hasutaṁ mutesu vā.

For the one who is cleansed does not conceive Dhono na hi tena maññati, in terms of things seen, heard, or thought. Yadidaṁ diṭṭhasutaṁ mutesu vā; They do not wish to be purified by another; Nāññena visuddhimicchati, they are neither passionate
nor growing dispassioned.
Na hi so rajjati no virajjatīti.