1.1Animittamanaññātaṁ,Unforeseen and unknown¹1.2maccānaṁ idha jīvitaṁ;is the extent of this mortal life—1.3Kasirañca parittañca,hard and short1.4tañca dukkhena saṁyutaṁ.and bound to pain.

2.1Na hi so upakkamo atthi,There is no way that2.2yena jātā na miyyare;those born will not die.2.3Jarampi patvā maraṇaṁ,On reaching old age death follows:2.4evaṁdhammā hi pāṇino.such is the nature of living creatures.

3.1Phalānamiva pakkānaṁ,As ripe fruit3.2pāto patanato bhayaṁ;are always in danger of falling,²3.3Evaṁ jātāna maccānaṁ,so mortals once born3.4niccaṁ maraṇato bhayaṁ.are always in danger of death.

4.1Yathāpi kumbhakārassa,As clay pots4.2katā mattikabhājanā;made by a potter4.3Sabbe bhedanapariyantā,all end up being broken,4.4evaṁ maccāna jīvitaṁ.so is the life of mortals.

5.1Daharā ca mahantā ca,Young and old,5.2ye bālā ye ca paṇḍitā;foolish and wise—5.3Sabbe maccuvasaṁ yanti,all go under the sway of death;5.4sabbe maccuparāyaṇā.all are destined to die.

6.1Tesaṁ maccuparetānaṁ,When those overcome by death6.2gacchataṁ paralokato;leave this world for the next,6.3Na pitā tāyate puttaṁ,a father cannot protect his son,6.4ñātī vā pana ñātake.nor relatives their kin.

7.1Pekkhataṁyeva ñātīnaṁ,See how, while relatives look on,7.2passa lālapataṁ puthu;wailing profusely,7.3Ekamekova maccānaṁ,mortals are led away one by one,7.4govajjho viya nīyati.like a cow to the slaughter.

8.1Evamabbhāhato loko,And so the world is stricken8.2Maccunā ca jarāya ca;by old age and by death.8.3Tasmā dhīrā na socanti,That is why the attentive do not grieve,8.4Viditvā lokapariyāyaṁ.for they understand the way of the world.

9.1Yassa maggaṁ na jānāsi,For one whose path you do not know—9.2āgatassa gatassa vā;not whence they came nor where they went—9.3Ubho ante asampassaṁ,you lament in vain,9.4niratthaṁ paridevasi.seeing neither end.

10.1Paridevayamāno ce,If a bewildered person,10.2Kiñcidatthaṁ udabbahe;lamenting and self-harming,10.3Sammūḷho hiṁsamattānaṁ,could extract any good from that,10.4Kayirā ce naṁ vicakkhaṇo.then those who see clearly would do the same.

11.1Na hi ruṇṇena sokena,For not by weeping and wailing11.2Santiṁ pappoti cetaso;will you find peace of heart.11.3Bhiyyassuppajjate dukkhaṁ,It just gives rise to more suffering,11.4Sarīraṁ cupahaññati.and distresses your body.

12.1Kiso vivaṇṇo bhavati,Growing thin and pale,12.2Hiṁsamattānamattanā;you hurt yourself.12.3Na tena petā pālenti,It does nothing to help the dead:12.4Niratthā paridevanā.your lamentation is in vain.

13.1Sokamappajahaṁ jantu,Unless a personage gives up grief,13.2Bhiyyo dukkhaṁ nigacchati;they fall into suffering all the more.13.3Anutthunanto kālaṅkataṁ,Bewailing those whose time has come,13.4Sokassa vasamanvagū.you fall under the sway of grief.

14.1Aññepi passa gamine,See, too, other folk departing,14.2Yathākammupage nare;passing on according to their deeds;14.3Maccuno vasamāgamma,fallen under the sway of death,14.4Phandantevidha pāṇino.beings flounder while still here.

15.1Yena yena hi maññanti,For however they imagine it,15.2Tato taṁ hoti aññathā;it turns out to be something else.15.3Etādiso vinābhāvo,Such is separation:15.4Passa lokassa pariyāyaṁ.see the way of the world!

16.1Api vassasataṁ jīve,Even if a human lives16.2Bhiyyo vā pana māṇavo;a hundred years or more,16.3Ñātisaṅghā vinā hoti,they are parted from their family circle,16.4Jahāti idha jīvitaṁ.they leave this life behind.

17.1Tasmā arahato sutvā,Therefore, having learned from the Perfected One,17.2Vineyya paridevitaṁ;dispel lamentation.17.3Petaṁ kālaṅkataṁ disvā,Seeing the dead and departed, think:17.4Neso labbhā mayā iti.“I cannot escape this.”³

18.1Yathā saraṇamādittaṁ,As one would extinguish18.2Vārinā parinibbaye;a blazing refuge with water,18.3Evampi dhīro sapañño,so too an attentive one—a wise,18.4Paṇḍito kusalo naro;astute, and skilled person—18.5Khippamuppatitaṁ sokaṁ,would swiftly blow away grief that comes up,18.6Vāto tūlaṁva dhaṁsaye.like the wind a tuft of cotton.

19.1Paridevaṁ pajappañca,One who seeks their own happiness19.2Domanassañca attano;would pluck out the dart from themselves—19.3Attano sukhamesāno,the wailing and praying,19.4Abbahe sallamattano.and sadness inside.

20.1Abbūḷhasallo asito,With dart plucked out, unattached,20.2santiṁ pappuyya cetaso;having found peace of mind,20.3Sabbasokaṁ atikkanto,overcoming all sorrow,20.4asoko hoti nibbutoti.one is sorrowless and quenched.

20.5Sallasuttaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ.