Rain soddens what’s covered
& doesn’t sodden what’s exposed.
So open up what’s covered up,
so that it won’t get soddened by the rain.1
Attacked by death
is the world,
surrounded by aging,
beset by the arrow of craving,
always obscured by desire.
Attacked by death
is the world,
& encircled by aging,
constantly beaten, with no shelter,
like a thief
sentenced to punishment.
They encroach like masses of flame,
these three:
death, aging, & illness.
There’s no strength to confront them,
no speed to run away.
Make the day not-in-vain,
a little or a lot.
However much
the day passes,
that’s how much less
is life.
Your last day approaches.
This isn’t your time
to be heedless.
Rain soddens what’s covered
& doesn’t sodden what’s exposed.
So open up what’s covered up,
so that it won’t get soddened by the rain.1
Attacked by death
is the world,
surrounded by aging,
beset by the arrow of craving,
always obscured by desire.
Attacked by death
is the world,
surrounded by aging,
beset by the arrow of craving,
always obscured by desire.
Attacked by death
is the world,
& encircled by aging,
constantly beaten, with no shelter,
like a thief
sentenced to punishment.
Attacked by death
is the world,
& encircled by aging,
constantly beaten, with no shelter,
like a thief
sentenced to punishment.
They encroach like masses of flame,
these three:
death, aging, & illness.
There’s no strength to confront them,
no speed to run away.
They encroach like masses of flame,
these three:
death, aging, & illness.
There’s no strength to confront them,
no speed to run away.
Make the day not-in-vain,
a little or a lot.
However much
the day passes,
that’s how much less
is life.
Your last day approaches.
This isn’t your time
to be heedless.
Make the day not-in-vain,
a little or a lot.
However much
the day passes,
that’s how much less
is life.
Your last day approaches.
This isn’t your time
to be heedless.
Notes
1. This verse is identical with the verse in Ud 5:5.
Origin URL: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/Thag/thag6_13.html