1.1“Manujassa pamattacārino,When a man lives heedlessly,1.2Taṇhā vaḍḍhati māluvā viya;craving grows in them like a camel’s foot creeper.1.3So plavatī hurā huraṁ,They jump from one thing to the next, like a langur1.4Phalamicchaṁva vanasmi vānaro.greedy for fruit in a forest grove.¹

2.1Yaṁ esā sahate jammī,Whoever is beaten by this wretched craving,2.2taṇhā loke visattikā;this attachment to the world,2.3Sokā tassa pavaḍḍhanti,their sorrow grows,2.4abhivaṭṭhaṁva bīraṇaṁ.like grass in the rain.

3.1Yo cetaṁ sahate jammiṁ,But whoever prevails over this wretched craving,3.2taṇhaṁ loke duraccayaṁ;so hard to get over in the world,3.3Sokā tamhā papatanti,their sorrows fall from them,3.4udabindūva pokkharā.like a drop from a lotus-leaf.

4.1Taṁ vo vadāmi bhaddaṁ vo,I say this to you, good people,4.2yāvantettha samāgatā;all those who have gathered here:4.3Taṇhāya mūlaṁ khaṇatha,dig up the root of craving,4.4usīratthova bīraṇaṁ;as you’d dig up the grass in search of roots.4.5Mā vo naḷaṁva sotova,Don’t let Māra break you again and again,4.6māro bhañji punappunaṁ.like a stream breaking a reed.

5.1Karotha buddhavacanaṁ,Act on the Buddha’s words,5.2khaṇo vo mā upaccagā;don’t let the moment pass you by.5.3Khaṇātītā hi socanti,For if you miss your moment5.4nirayamhi samappitā.you’ll grieve when sent to hell.

6.1Pamādo rajo pamādo,Negligence is always dust;6.2pamādānupatito rajo;dust follows right behind negligence.6.3Appamādena vijjāya,Through diligence and knowledge,6.4abbahe sallamattano”ti.pluck out the dart from yourself.

6.5… Mālukyaputto thero ….