- 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 pahīyati, that too is given up when they die. Yaṁ puriso mamidanti maññati; Knowing this, an astute follower of mine Etampi viditvā paṇḍito, would not be bent on ownership. Na mamattāya nametha māmako.
Just as, upon awakening, a person does not see Supinena yathāpi saṅgataṁ, what they encountered in a dream; Paṭibuddho puriso na passati; so too you do not see your loved ones Evampi piyāyitaṁ janaṁ, when they are dead and gone. Petaṁ kālaṅkataṁ na passati.
You used to see and hear those folk, Diṭṭhāpi 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For a mendicant who lives withdrawn, Patilīnacarassa bhikkhuno, frequenting a secluded seat, Bhajamānassa vivittamāsanaṁ; they say it’s fitting Sāmaggiyamāhu tassa taṁ, to not show themselves in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 munī 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 diṭṭhasutaṁ 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 <j>nor growing dispassioned. Na hi so rajjati no virajjatīti.
Jarāsuttaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ.