11. Jarāvaggo

11. Aging

146.

Ko nu hāso [kinnu hāso (ka.)] kimānando, niccaṃ pajjalite sati;

What laughter, why joy, when constantly aflame?

Andhakārena onaddhā, padīpaṃ na gavesatha.

Enveloped in darkness, don’t you look for a lamp?

147.

Passa cittakataṃ bimbaṃ, arukāyaṃ samussitaṃ;

Look at the beautified image, a heap of festering wounds, shored up:

Āturaṃ bahusaṅkappaṃ, yassa natthi dhuvaṃ ṭhiti.

ill, but the object of many resolves, where there is nothing lasting or sure.

148.

Parijiṇṇamidaṃ rūpaṃ, roganīḷaṃ [roganiḍḍhaṃ (sī. pī.), roganiddhaṃ (syā.)] pabhaṅguraṃ;

Worn out is this body, a nest of diseases, dissolving.

Bhijjati pūtisandeho, maraṇantañhi jīvitaṃ.

This putrid conglomeration is bound to break up, for life is hemmed in with death.

149.

Yānimāni apatthāni [yānimāni apatthāni (sī. syā. pī.), yānimāni’paviddhāni (?)], alābūneva [alāpūneva (sī. syā. pī.)] sārade;

On seeing these bones discarded like gourds in the fall,

Kāpotakāni aṭṭhīni, tāni disvāna kā rati.

pigeon-gray: what delight?

150.

Aṭṭhīnaṃ nagaraṃ kataṃ, maṃsalohitalepanaṃ;

A city made of bones, plastered over with flesh & blood,

Yattha jarā ca maccu ca, māno makkho ca ohito.

whose hidden treasures are: pride & contempt, aging & death.

151.

Jīranti ve rājarathā sucittā, atho sarīrampi jaraṃ upeti;

Even royal chariots well-embellished get run down, and so does the body succumb to old age.

Satañca dhammo na jaraṃ upeti, santo have sabbhi pavedayanti.

But the Dhamma of the good doesn’t succumb to old age: the good let the civilized know.

152.

Appassutāyaṃ puriso, balibaddhova [balivaddova (sī. syā. pī.)] jīrati;

This unlistening man matures like an ox.

Maṃsāni tassa vaḍḍhanti, paññā tassa na vaḍḍhati.

His muscles develop, his discernment not.

153.

Anekajātisaṃsāraṃ , sandhāvissaṃ anibbisaṃ;

Through the round of many births I roamed without reward, without rest,

Gahakāraṃ [gahakārakaṃ (sī. syā. pī.)] gavesanto, dukkhā jāti punappunaṃ.

seeking the house-builder. Painful is birth again & again.

154.

Gahakāraka diṭṭhosi, puna gehaṃ na kāhasi;

House-builder, you’re seen! You will not build a house again.

Sabbā te phāsukā bhaggā, gahakūṭaṃ visaṅkhataṃ;

All your rafters broken, the ridge pole dismantled,

Visaṅkhāragataṃ cittaṃ, taṇhānaṃ khayamajjhagā.

immersed in dismantling, the mind has attained to the end of craving.

155.

Acaritvā brahmacariyaṃ, aladdhā yobbane dhanaṃ;

Neither living the chaste life nor gaining wealth in their youth,

Jiṇṇakoñcāva jhāyanti, khīṇamaccheva pallale.

they waste away like old herons in a dried-up lake depleted of fish.

156.

Acaritvā brahmacariyaṃ, aladdhā yobbane dhanaṃ;

Neither living the chaste life nor gaining wealth in their youth,

Senti cāpātikhīṇāva, purāṇāni anutthunaṃ.

they lie around, misfired from the bow, sighing over old times.

Jarāvaggo ekādasamo niṭṭhito.