Najīratisutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.76

Linked Discourses 1.76

8. Chetvāvagga

8. Slain

Najīratisutta

Getting Old

“Kiṁ jīrati kiṁ na jīrati,

“What ages, what does not age?

kiṁsu uppathoti vuccati;

What’s called a deviation?

Kiṁsu dhammānaṁ paripantho,

What’s a roadblock for skillful qualities?

kiṁsu rattindivakkhayo;

What is ending day and night?

Kiṁ malaṁ brahmacariyassa,

What’s the stain of celibacy?

kiṁ sinānamanodakaṁ.

What’s the waterless bath?

Kati lokasmiṁ chiddāni,

How many holes are there in the world,

yattha vittaṁ na tiṭṭhati;

where one’s wealth leaks out?

Bhagavantaṁ puṭṭhumāgamma,

We’ve come to ask the worthy sir:

kathaṁ jānemu taṁ mayan”ti.

how are we to understand this?”

“Rūpaṁ jīrati maccānaṁ,

“The physical form of mortals gets old,

nāmagottaṁ na jīrati;

but their name and clan don’t.

Rāgo uppathoti vuccati.

Lust is called a deviation,

Lobho dhammānaṁ paripantho,

and greed is a roadblock for skillful qualities.

Vayo rattindivakkhayo;

Youth is ending day and night.

Itthī malaṁ brahmacariyassa,

Women are the stain of chastity,

Etthāyaṁ sajjate pajā;

to which this generation clings.

Tapo ca brahmacariyañca,

Fervor and chastity

Taṁ sinānamanodakaṁ.

are the waterless bath.

Cha lokasmiṁ chiddāni,

There are six holes in the world,

yattha vittaṁ na tiṭṭhati;

where one’s wealth leaks out:

Ālasyañca pamādo ca,

laziness and negligence,

anuṭṭhānaṁ asaṁyamo;

lack of initiative and lack of restraint,

Niddā tandī ca te chidde,

sleepiness and sloth.

sabbaso taṁ vivajjaye”ti.

You should completely get rid of these holes!”