“I see rich people in the world who, because of delusion, give not the wealth they’ve earned. Greedily, they hoard their riches, yearning for ever more sensual pleasures.
A king who conquered the earth by force, ruling the land from sea to sea, unsatisfied with the near shore of the ocean, would still yearn for the further shore.
Not just the king, but others too, reach death not rid of craving. They leave the body still wanting, for in this world sensual pleasures never satisfy.
Rājā ca aññe ca bahū manussā, Avītataṇhā maraṇaṁ upenti; Ūnāva hutvāna jahanti dehaṁ, Kāmehi lokamhi na hatthi titti.
Relatives lament, their hair disheveled, saying ‘Ah! Alas! They’re not immortal!’ They take out the body wrapped in a shroud, heap up a pyre, and burn it there.
Kandanti naṁ ñātī pakiriya kese, Aho vatā no amarāti cāhu; Vatthena naṁ pārutaṁ nīharitvā, Citaṁ samodhāya tato ḍahanti.
It’s poked with stakes while being burnt, in just a single cloth, all wealth gone. Relatives, friends, and companions can’t help you when you’re dying.
So ḍayhati sūlehi tujjamāno, Ekena vatthena pahāya bhoge; Na mīyamānassa bhavanti tāṇā, Ñātī ca mittā atha vā sahāyā.
Heirs take your riches, while beings fare on according to their deeds. Riches don’t follow you when you die; nor do children, wife, wealth, nor kingdom.
Dāyādakā tassa dhanaṁ haranti, Satto pana gacchati yena kammaṁ; Na mīyamānaṁ dhanamanveti kiñci, Puttā ca dārā ca dhanañca raṭṭhaṁ.
Longevity isn’t gained by riches, nor does wealth banish old age; for the attentive say this life is short, it’s perishable and not eternal.
Na dīghamāyuṁ labhate dhanena, Na cāpi vittena jaraṁ vihanti; Appaṁ hidaṁ jīvitamāhu dhīrā, Asassataṁ vippariṇāmadhammaṁ.
The rich and the poor feel its touch; the fool and the attentive one feel it too. But the fool lies stricken by their own folly, while the attentive don’t tremble at the touch.
Aḍḍhā daliddā ca phusanti phassaṁ, Bālo ca dhīro ca tatheva phuṭṭho; Bālo hi bālyā vadhitova seti, Dhīro ca no vedhati phassaphuṭṭho.
Therefore wisdom’s much better than wealth, since by wisdom you reach consummation in this life. But if because of delusion you don’t reach consummation, you’ll do evil deeds in life after life.
Tasmā hi paññāva dhanena seyyā, Yāya vosānamidhādhigacchati; Abyositattā hi bhavābhavesu, Pāpāni kammāni karoti mohā.
One who enters a womb and the world beyond, will transmigrate from one life to the next. While someone of little wisdom, placing faith in them, also enters a womb and the world beyond.
As a bandit caught in a window is punished for his own bad deeds; so after departing, in the world beyond, people are punished for their own bad deeds.
Sensual pleasures are diverse, sweet, delightful; appearing in disguise they disturb the mind. Seeing danger in sensual stimulations, I went forth, O King.
As fruit falls from a tree, so the sons of Manu fall, young and old, when the body breaks up. Seeing this, too, I went forth, O King; it’s a sure bet that the ascetic life is better.”
Dumapphalānīva patanti māṇavā, Daharā ca vuḍḍhā ca sarīrabhedā; Etampi disvā pabbajitomhi rāja, Apaṇṇakaṁ sāmaññameva seyyo.
“I went forth out of faith joining the victor’s dispensation. My going forth wasn’t wasted; I enjoy my food free of debt.
