1Manujassa pamattacārino,
When a man lives heedlessly,
2Taṇhā vaḍḍhati māluvā viya;
craving grows in them like a camel’s foot creeper.
3So plavatī hurā huraṁ,
They jump from one thing to the next, like a langur
4Phalamicchaṁva vanasmi vānaro.
greedy for fruit in a forest grove.
5Yaṁ esā sahate jammī,
Whoever is beaten by this wretched craving,
6taṇhā loke visattikā;
this attachment to the world,
7Sokā tassa pavaḍḍhanti,
their sorrow grows,
8abhivaṭṭhaṁva bīraṇaṁ.
like grass in the rain.
9Yo cetaṁ sahate jammiṁ,
But whoever prevails over this wretched craving,
10taṇhaṁ loke duraccayaṁ;
so hard to get over in the world,
11Sokā tamhā papatanti,
their sorrows fall from them,
12udabinduva pokkharā.
like a drop from a lotus-leaf.
13Taṁ vo vadāmi bhaddaṁ vo,
I say this to you, good people,
14yāvantettha samāgatā;
all those who have gathered here:
15Taṇhāya mūlaṁ khaṇatha,
dig up the root of craving,
16usīratthova bīraṇaṁ;
as you’d dig up grass in search of roots.
17Mā vo naḷaṁva sotova,
Don’t let Māra break you again and again,
18māro bhañji punappunaṁ.
like a stream breaking a reed.
19Yathāpi mūle anupaddave daḷhe,
A tree grows back even when cut down,
20Chinnopi rukkho punareva rūhati;
so long as its roots are strong and undamaged;
21Evampi taṇhānusaye anūhate,
suffering springs up again and again,
22Nibbattatī dukkhamidaṁ punappunaṁ.
so long as the tendency to craving is not pulled out.
23Yassa chattiṁsati sotā,
A person of low views
24manāpasavanā bhusā;
in whom the thirty-six streams
25Mahāvahanti duddiṭṭhiṁ,
that flow to pleasure are mighty,
26saṅkappā rāganissitā.
is swept away by lustful thoughts.
27Savanti sabbadhi sotā,
The streams flow everywhere;
28latā uppajja tiṭṭhati;
a weed springs up and remains.
29Tañca disvā lataṁ jātaṁ,
Seeing this weed that has been born,
30mūlaṁ paññāya chindatha.
cut the root with wisdom.
31Saritāni sinehitāni ca,
A personage’s joys
32Somanassāni bhavanti jantuno;
flow from senses and cravings.
33Te sātasitā sukhesino,
Seekers of happiness, bent on pleasure,
34Te ve jātijarūpagā narā.
continue to be reborn and grow old.
35Tasiṇāya purakkhatā pajā,
People governed by thirst,
36Parisappanti sasova bandhito;
crawl about like a trapped rabbit.
37Saṁyojanasaṅgasattakā,
Bound and fettered, for a long time
38Dukkhamupenti punappunaṁ cirāya.
they return to pain time and again.
39Tasiṇāya purakkhatā pajā,
People governed by thirst,
40Parisappanti sasova bandhito;
crawl about like a trapped rabbit.
41Tasmā tasiṇaṁ vinodaye,
That’s why one who longs for dispassion
42Ākaṅkhanta virāgamattano.
should dispel thirst.
43Yo nibbanatho vanādhimutto,
Unsnarled, they set out for the jungle,
44Vanamutto vanameva dhāvati;
then they run right back to the jungle they left behind.
45Taṁ puggalametha passatha,
Just look at this individual!
46Mutto bandhanameva dhāvati.
Freed, they run to bondage.
47Na taṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā,
The attentive say that shackle is not strong
48Yadāyasaṁ dārujapabbajañca;
that’s made of iron, wood, or knots.
49Sārattarattā maṇikuṇḍalesu,
But obsession with jeweled earrings,
50Puttesu dāresu ca yā apekkhā.
concern for your partners and children:
51Etaṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā,
this, say the attentive, is a strong shackle
52Ohārinaṁ sithilaṁ duppamuñcaṁ;
dragging the indulgent down, hard to escape.
53Etampi chetvāna paribbajanti,
Having cut this one too they go forth,
54Anapekkhino kāmasukhaṁ pahāya.
unconcerned, having given up sensual pleasures.
55Ye rāgarattānupatanti sotaṁ,
Besotted by lust they fall into the stream,
56Sayaṅkataṁ makkaṭakova jālaṁ;
like a spider caught in the web she wove.
57Etampi chetvāna vajanti dhīrā,
The attentive proceed, having cut this one too,
58Anapekkhino sabbadukkhaṁ pahāya.
unconcerned, having given up all suffering.
59Muñca pure muñca pacchato,
Let go of the past, let go of the future,
60Majjhe muñca bhavassa pāragū;
let go of the present, having gone beyond rebirth.
61Sabbattha vimuttamānaso,
With your heart freed in every respect,
62Na punaṁ jātijaraṁ upehisi.
you’ll not come again to rebirth and old age.
63Vitakkamathitassa jantuno,
For a personage churned by thoughts,
64Tibbarāgassa subhānupassino;
very lustful, focusing on beauty,
65Bhiyyo taṇhā pavaḍḍhati,
their craving grows and grows,
66Esa kho daḷhaṁ karoti bandhanaṁ.
tying them with a stout bond.
67Vitakkūpasame ca yo rato,
But one who loves to calm their thoughts,
68Asubhaṁ bhāvayate sadā sato;
developing perception of ugliness, ever mindful,
69Esa kho byanti kāhiti,
will surely eliminate that craving,
70Esa checchati mārabandhanaṁ.
cutting off the bonds of Māra.
71Niṭṭhaṅgato asantāsī,
One who is confident, unafraid,
72vītataṇho anaṅgaṇo;
rid of craving, free of blemish,
73Acchindi bhavasallāni,
having struck down the arrows flying to future lives,
74antimoyaṁ samussayo.
this bag of bones is their last.
75Vītataṇho anādāno,
Rid of craving, free of grasping,
76Niruttipadakovido;
expert in the definition of terms,
77Akkharānaṁ sannipātaṁ,
knowing the correct
78Jaññā pubbāparāni ca;
structure and sequence of syllables,
79Sa ve “antimasārīro,
they are said to be one who bears their final body,
80Mahāpañño mahāpuriso”ti vuccati.
one of great wisdom, a great person.
81Sabbābhibhū sabbavidūhamasmi,
I am the champion, the knower of all,
82Sabbesu dhammesu anūpalitto;
unsullied in the midst of all things.
83Sabbañjaho taṇhakkhaye vimutto,
I’ve given up all, freed in the ending of craving.
84Sayaṁ abhiññāya kamuddiseyyaṁ.
Since I know for myself, whose follower should I be?
85Sabbadānaṁ dhammadānaṁ jināti,
The gift of the teaching surmounts all other gifts;
86Sabbarasaṁ dhammaraso jināti;
the taste of the teaching surmounts all other tastes;
87Sabbaratiṁ dhammarati jināti,
the joy of the teaching surmounts all other joys;
88Taṇhakkhayo sabbadukkhaṁ jināti.
the ending of craving surmounts all suffering.
89Hananti bhogā dummedhaṁ,
Riches ruin a simpleton,
90no ca pāragavesino;
but not a seeker of the far shore.
91Bhogataṇhāya dummedho,
From craving for wealth, a simpleton
92hanti aññeva attanaṁ.
ruins themselves and others.
93Tiṇadosāni khettāni,
Weeds are the bane of crops,
94rāgadosā ayaṁ pajā;
but greed is these folk’s bane.
95Tasmā hi vītarāgesu,
That’s why a gift to one rid of greed
96dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.
is so very fruitful.
97Tiṇadosāni khettāni,
Weeds are the bane of crops,
98dosadosā ayaṁ pajā;
but hate is these folk’s bane.
99Tasmā hi vītadosesu,
That’s why a gift to one rid of hate
100dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.
is so very fruitful.
101Tiṇadosāni khettāni,
Weeds are the bane of crops,
102mohadosā ayaṁ pajā;
but delusion is these folk’s bane.
103Tasmā hi vītamohesu,
That’s why a gift to one rid of delusion
104dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.
is so very fruitful.
105Tiṇadosāni khettāni,
Weeds are the bane of crops,
106icchādosā ayaṁ pajā;
but desire is these folk’s bane.
107Tasmā hi vigaticchesu,
That’s why a gift to one rid of desire
108dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.
is so very fruitful.