24. Taṇhāvaggo

24. Craving

334.

Manujassa pamattacārino, taṇhā vaḍḍhati māluvā viya;

When a person lives heedlessly, his craving grows like a creeping vine.

So plavatī [plavati (sī. pī.), palavetī (ka.), uplavati (?)] hurā huraṃ, phalamicchaṃva vanasmi vānaro.

He runs now here & now there, as if looking for fruit: a monkey in the forest.

335.

Yaṃ esā sahate jammī, taṇhā loke visattikā;

If this sticky, uncouth craving overcomes you in the world,

Sokā tassa pavaḍḍhanti, abhivaṭṭhaṃva [abhivaḍḍhaṃva (syā.), abhivaṭṭaṃva (pī.), abhivuḍḍhaṃva (ka.)] bīraṇaṃ.

your sorrows grow like wild grass after rain.

336.

Yo cetaṃ sahate jammiṃ, taṇhaṃ loke duraccayaṃ;

If, in the world, you overcome this uncouth craving, hard to escape,

Sokā tamhā papatanti, udabinduva pokkharā.

sorrows roll off you, like water beads off a lotus.

337.

Taṃ vo vadāmi bhaddaṃ vo, yāvantettha samāgatā;

To all of you gathered here I say: Good fortune.

Taṇhāya mūlaṃ khaṇatha, usīratthova bīraṇaṃ;

Dig up craving —as when seeking medicinal roots, wild grass— by the root.

Mā vo naḷaṃva sotova, māro bhañji punappunaṃ.

Don’t let Mara cut you down —as a raging river, a reed— over & over again.

338.

Yathāpi mūle anupaddave daḷhe, chinnopi rukkho punareva rūhati;

If its root remains undamaged & strong, a tree, even if cut, will grow back.

Evampi taṇhānusaye anūhate, nibbattatī dukkhamidaṃ punappunaṃ.

So too if craving-obsession is not rooted out, this suffering returns again & again.

339.

Yassa chattiṃsati sotā, manāpasavanā bhusā;

He whose 36 streams, flowing to what is appealing, are strong:

Māhā [vāhā (sī. syā. pī.)] vahanti duddiṭṭhiṃ, saṅkappā rāganissitā.

the currents—resolves based on passion— carry him, of base views, away.

340.

Savanti sabbadhi sotā, latā uppajja [ubbhijja (sī. syā. kaṃ. pī.)] tiṭṭhati;

They flow every which way, the streams, but the sprouted creeper stays in place.

Tañca disvā lataṃ jātaṃ, mūlaṃ paññāya chindatha.

Now, seeing that the creeper’s arisen, cut through its root with discernment.

341.

Saritāni sinehitāni ca, somanassāni bhavanti jantuno;

Loosened & oiled are the joys of a person.

Te sātasitā sukhesino, te ve jātijarūpagā narā.

People, bound by enticement, looking for ease: to birth & aging they go.

342.

Tasiṇāya purakkhatā pajā, parisappanti sasova bandhito [bādhito (bahūsu)];

Encircled with craving, people hop round & around like a rabbit caught in a snare.

Saṃyojanasaṅgasattakā, dukkhamupenti punappunaṃ cirāya.

Tied with fetters & bonds they go on to suffering, again & again, for long.

343.

Tasiṇāya purakkhatā pajā, parisappanti sasova bandhito;

Encircled with craving, people hop round & around like a rabbit caught in a snare.

Tasmā tasiṇaṃ vinodaye, ākaṅkhanta [bhikkhū ākaṅkhī (sī.), bhikkhu ākaṅkhaṃ (syā.)] virāgamattano.

So a monk should dispel craving, should aspire to dispassion for himself.

344.

Yo nibbanatho vanādhimutto, vanamutto vanameva dhāvati;

Cleared of the underbrush but obsessed with the forest, set free from the forest, right back to the forest he runs.

Taṃ puggalametha passatha, mutto bandhanameva dhāvati.

Come, see the person set free who runs right back to the same old chains!

345.

Na taṃ daḷhaṃ bandhanamāhu dhīrā, yadāyasaṃ dārujapabbajañca [dārūjaṃ babbajañca (sī. pī.)];

That’s not a strong bond —so say the enlightened— the one made of iron, of wood, or of grass.

Sārattarattā maṇikuṇḍalesu, puttesu dāresu ca yā apekkhā.

To be smitten, enthralled, with jewels & ornaments, longing for children & wives:

346.

Etaṃ daḷhaṃ bandhanamāhu dhīrā, ohārinaṃ sithilaṃ duppamuñcaṃ;

that’s the strong bond, —so say the enlightened— one that’s constraining, elastic, hard to untie.

Etampi chetvāna paribbajanti, anapekkhino kāmasukhaṃ pahāya.

But having cut it, they —the enlightened—go forth, free of longing, abandoning sensual ease.

347.

Ye rāgarattānupatanti sotaṃ, sayaṃkataṃ makkaṭakova jālaṃ;

Those smitten with passion fall back into a self-made stream, like a spider snared in its web.

Etampi chetvāna vajanti dhīrā, anapekkhino sabbadukkhaṃ pahāya.

But, having cut it, the enlightened set forth, free of longing, abandoning all suffering & stress.

348.

Muñca pure muñca pacchato, majjhe muñca bhavassa pāragū;

Gone to the beyond of becoming, you let go of in front, let go of behind, let go of between.

Sabbattha vimuttamānaso, na punaṃ jātijaraṃ upehisi.

With a heart everywhere let-go, you don’t come again to birth & aging.

349.

Vitakkamathitassa jantuno, tibbarāgassa subhānupassino;

For a person forced on by his thinking, fierce in his passion, focused on beauty,

Bhiyyo taṇhā pavaḍḍhati, esa kho daḷhaṃ [esa gāḷhaṃ (ka.)] karoti bandhanaṃ.

craving grows all the more. He’s the one who tightens the bond.

350.

Vitakkūpasame ca [vitakkūpasameva (ka.)] yo rato, asubhaṃ bhāvayate sadā sato;

But one who delights in the stilling of thinking, always mindful cultivating a focus on the foul:

Esa [eso (?)] kho byanti kāhiti, esa [eso (?)] checchati mārabandhanaṃ.

He’s the one who will make an end, the one who will cut Mara’s bond.

351.

Niṭṭhaṅgato asantāsī, vītataṇho anaṅgaṇo;

Arrived at the finish, unfrightened, unblemished, free of craving,

Acchindi bhavasallāni, antimoyaṃ samussayo.

he has cut away the arrows of becoming. This physical heap is his last.

352.

Vītataṇho anādāno, niruttipadakovido;

Free from craving, ungrasping, astute in expression,

Akkharānaṃ sannipātaṃ, jaññā pubbāparāni ca;

knowing the combination of sounds— which comes first & which after.

Sa ve ‘‘antimasārīro, mahāpañño mahāpuriso’’ti vuccati.

He’s called a last-body greatly discerning great man.

353.

Sabbābhibhū sabbavidūhamasmi, sabbesu dhammesu anūpalitto;

All-conquering, all-knowing am I, with regard to all things, unadhering.

Sabbañjaho taṇhakkhaye vimutto, sayaṃ abhiññāya kamuddiseyyaṃ.

All-abandoning, released in the ending of craving: having fully known on my own, to whom should I point as my teacher?

354.

Sabbadānaṃ dhammadānaṃ jināti, sabbarasaṃ dhammaraso jināti;

A gift of Dhamma conquers all gifts; the taste of Dhamma, all tastes;

Sabbaratiṃ dhammarati jināti, taṇhakkhayo sabbadukkhaṃ jināti.

a delight in Dhamma, all delights; the ending of craving, all suffering & stress.

355.

Hananti bhogā dummedhaṃ, no ca pāragavesino;

Riches ruin the man weak in discernment, but not those who seek the beyond.

Bhogataṇhāya dummedho, hanti aññeva attanaṃ.

Through craving for riches the man weak in discernment ruins himself as he would others.

356.

Tiṇadosāni khettāni, rāgadosā ayaṃ pajā;

Fields are spoiled by weeds; people, by passion.

Tasmā hi vītarāgesu, dinnaṃ hoti mahapphalaṃ.

So what’s given to those free of passion bears great fruit.

357.

Tiṇadosāni khettāni, dosadosā ayaṃ pajā;

Fields are spoiled by weeds; people, by aversion.

Tasmā hi vītadosesu, dinnaṃ hoti mahapphalaṃ.

So what’s given to those free of aversion bears great fruit.

358.

Tiṇadosāni khettāni, mohadosā ayaṃ pajā;

Fields are spoiled by weeds; people, by delusion.

Tasmā hi vītamohesu, dinnaṃ hoti mahapphalaṃ.

So what’s given to those free of delusion bears great fruit.

359.

(Tiṇadosāni khettāni, icchādosā ayaṃ pajā;

Fields are spoiled by weeds; people, by longing.

Tasmā hi vigaticchesu, dinnaṃ hoti mahapphalaṃ.) [( ) videsapotthakesu natthi, aṭṭhakathāyampi na dissati]

So what’s given to those free of longing bears great fruit.

Tiṇadosāni khettāni, taṇhādosā ayaṃ pajā;

Tasmā hi vītataṇhesu, dinnaṃ hoti mahapphalaṃ.

Taṇhāvaggo catuvīsatimo niṭṭhito.