1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.1.3Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā rattandhakāratimisāyaṁ abbhokāse nisinno hoti telappadīpesu jhāyamānesu.Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while oil lamps were burning.

2.1Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā adhipātakā tesu telappadīpesu āpātaparipātaṁ anayaṁ āpajjanti, byasanaṁ āpajjanti, anayabyasanaṁ āpajjanti.And many moths were falling down and crashing down into the lamps, coming to grief and ruin.2.2Addasā kho bhagavā te sambahule adhipātake tesu telappadīpesu āpātaparipātaṁ anayaṁ āpajjante, byasanaṁ āpajjante, anayabyasanaṁ āpajjante.The Buddha saw the moths coming to grief.

3.1Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

4.1“Upātidhāvanti na sāramenti,∥“Hastening by, they miss the essence,4.2Navaṁ navaṁ bandhanaṁ brūhayanti;sprouting ever more new bonds.4.3Patanti pajjotamivādhipātakā,Like moths falling in the flame,4.4Diṭṭhe sute itiheke niviṭṭhā”ti.some have become fixed in what is seen or heard.”

4.5Navamaṁ.