Ko nu hāso, kim-ānando, niccaṁ pajjalite sati,
Why this laughter, why this joy, when the world is constantly burning,

andhakārena onaddhā, padīpaṁ na gavesatha? [146]
why, when enveloped by darkness, do you not seek for a light?

 

Passa cittakataṁ bimbaṁ, arukāyaṁ samussitaṁ,
See this beautified manikin, a heap of sores that is raised up,

āturaṁ bahusaṅkappaṁ, yassa natthi dhuvaṁ ṭhiti. [147]
sick, imagined in many ways, It is very unclear how we should read this, as we are talking about the body it seems translations indicating it has many intentions are incorrect. The comm. says: mahājanena bahudhā saṅkappaṁ, which I follow. which has nothing stable or firm.

 

Parijiṇṇam-idaṁ rūpaṁ, roganīḷaṁ pabhaṅguraṁ,
This body is worn out, a nest of disease, perishing,

bhijjati pūtisandeho, maraṇantaṁ hi jīvitaṁ. [148]
the putrid body comes to destruction, for life ends in death.

 

Yānimāni apatthāni alāpūneva sārade
Like discarded white gourds The comm. positions the Buddha as pointing out discarded corpses as he says this; the word specifically means white gourds. thrown away in autumn

kāpotakāni aṭṭhīni, tāni disvāna kā rati? [149]
are these grey bones; seeing them, why is there delight?

 

 

Appassutāyaṁ puriso balivaddo va jīrati,
The person of little learning increases in age like an ox,

maṁsāni tassa vaḍḍhanti, paññā tassa na vaḍḍhati. [152]
(for although) his flesh does increase, his wisdom does not increase.

 

Anekajātisaṁsāraṁ sandhāvissaṁ anibbisaṁ
Through the round of countless births and deaths I have wandered without finding

gahakārakaṁ gavesanto: dukkhā jāti punappunaṁ. [153]
the housebuilder I was seeking: born and suffering once again.

Gahakāraka diṭṭhosi! Puna gehaṁ na kāhasi:
O housebuilder, now you are seen! You will not build the house again:

sabbā te phāsukā bhaggā, gahakūṭaṁ visaṅkhitaṁ,
all your rafters have been broken, and the ridgepole has been destroyed,

visaṅkhāragataṁ cittaṁ, taṇhānaṁ khayam-ajjhagā. [154]
my mind has reached the unconditioned, and craving’s end has been achieved.

 

Acaritvā brahmacarⁱyaṁ, aladdhā yobbane dhanaṁ,
Not having lived the holy life, not having gained wealth in their youth,

jiṇṇakoñcā ca jhāyanti khīṇamacche va pallale. [155]
they waste away like herons in a small lake devoid of fish.

 

Acaritvā brahmacarⁱyaṁ aladdhā yobbane dhanaṁ
Not having lived the holy life, not having gained wealth in their youth,

senti cāpātikhittā va, purāṇāni anutthunaṁ. [156]
they lie like (shafts) shot from a bow, wailing about things in the past.