Then two old brahmins—elderly and senior, who were advanced in years and had reached the final stage of life, a hundred and twenty years old—went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. Atha kho dve brāhmaṇā jiṇṇā vuddhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā vīsavassasatikā jātiyā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha: Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te brāhmaṇā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

“We brahmins, worthy Gotama, are old, elderly and senior, we’re advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life; we’re a hundred and twenty years old. “mayamassu, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā jiṇṇā vuddhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā vīsavassasatikā jātiyā; And we haven’t done what is good and skillful, nor have we made a shelter from fear. te camhā akatakalyāṇā akatakusalā akatabhīruttāṇā. Advise us, worthy Gotama, instruct us! It will be for our lasting welfare and happiness.” Ovadatu no bhavaṁ gotamo, anusāsatu no bhavaṁ gotamo yaṁ amhākaṁ assa dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti.

“Indeed, brahmins, you’re old, elderly and senior. “Taggha tumhe, brāhmaṇā, jiṇṇā vuddhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā vīsavassasatikā jātiyā; And you haven’t done what is good and skillful, nor have you made a shelter from fear. te cattha akatakalyāṇā akatakusalā akatabhīruttāṇā. This world is led onward by old age, sickness, and death. Upanīyati kho ayaṁ, brāhmaṇā, loko jarāya byādhinā maraṇena. But restraint here by way of body, speech, and mind is the shelter, protection, island, refuge, and haven for the departed. Evaṁ upanīyamāne kho, brāhmaṇā, loke jarāya byādhinā maraṇena, yo idha kāyena saṁyamo vācāya saṁyamo manasā saṁyamo, taṁ tassa petassa tāṇañca leṇañca dīpañca saraṇañca parāyaṇañcāti.

This life, so very short, is led onward. Upanīyati jīvitamappamāyu, One led on to old age has no shelter. Jarūpanītassa na santi tāṇā; Seeing this peril in death, Etaṁ bhayaṁ maraṇe pekkhamāno, do good deeds that bring you joy. Puññāni kayirātha sukhāvahāni.

The restraint practiced here—Yodha kāyena saṁyamo, of body, speech, and mind—Vācāya uda cetasā; leads the departed to happiness, Taṁ tassa petassa sukhāya hoti, as the good deeds done while living.” Yaṁ jīvamāno pakaroti puññan”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.