Craving

Manujassa pamattacārino,Taṇhā vaḍḍhati māluvā viya;So plavatī hurā huraṁ,Phalamicchaṁva vanasmi vānaro.

मनुजस्स पमत्तचारिनो,तण्हा वड्ढति मालुवा विय ।सो प्लवती हुरा हुरं,फलमिच्छंव वनस्मि वानरो ॥

When a man lives heedlessly, craving grows in them like a camel’s foot creeper. They jump from one thing to the next, like a langur greedy for fruit in a forest grove.

Yaṁ esā sahate jammī,taṇhā loke visattikā;Sokā tassa pavaḍḍhanti,abhivaṭṭhaṁva bīraṇaṁ.

यं एसा सहते जम्मी,तण्हा लोके विसत्तिका ।सोका तस्स पवड्ढन्ति,अभिवट्ठंव बीरणं ॥

Whoever is beaten by this wretched craving, this attachment to the world, their sorrow grows, like grass in the rain.

Yo cetaṁ sahate jammiṁ,taṇhaṁ loke duraccayaṁ;Sokā tamhā papatanti,udabinduva pokkharā.

यो चेतं सहते जम्मिं,तण्हं लोके दुरच्चयं ।सोका तम्हा पपतन्ति,उदबिन्दुव पोक्खरा ॥

But whoever prevails over this wretched craving, so hard to get over in the world, their sorrows fall from them, like a drop from a lotus-leaf.

Taṁ vo vadāmi bhaddaṁ vo,yāvantettha samāgatā;Taṇhāya mūlaṁ khaṇatha,usīratthova bīraṇaṁ;Mā vo naḷaṁva sotova,māro bhañji punappunaṁ.

तं वो वदामि भद्दं वो,यावन्तेत्थ समागता ।तण्हाय मूलं खणथ,उसीरत्थोव बीरणं ।मा वो नळंव सोतोव,मारो भञ्जि पुनप्पुनं ॥

I say this to you, good people, all those who have gathered here: dig up the root of craving, as you’d dig up grass in search of roots. Don’t let Māra break you again and again, like a stream breaking a reed.

Yassa chattiṁsati sotā,manāpasavanā bhusā;Mahāvahanti duddiṭṭhiṁ,saṅkappā rāganissitā.

यस्स छत्तिंसति सोता,मनापसवना भुसा ।महावहन्ति दुद्दिट्ठिं,सङ्कप्पा रागनिस्सिता ॥

A person of low views in whom the thirty-six streams that flow to pleasure are mighty, is swept away by lustful thoughts.

Savanti sabbadhi sotā,latā uppajja tiṭṭhati;Tañca disvā lataṁ jātaṁ,mūlaṁ paññāya chindatha.

सवन्ति सब्बधि सोता,लता उप्पज्ज तिट्ठति ।तञ्च दिस्वा लतं जातं,मूलं पञ्ञाय छिन्दथ ॥

The streams flow everywhere; a weed springs up and remains. Seeing this weed that has been born, cut the root with wisdom.

Saritāni sinehitāni ca,Somanassāni bhavanti jantuno;Te sātasitā sukhesino,Te ve jātijarūpagā narā.

सरितानि सिनेहितानि च,सोमनस्सानि भवन्ति जन्तुनो ।ते सातसिता सुखेसिनो,ते वे जातिजरूपगा नरा ॥

A personage’s joys flow from senses and cravings. Seekers of happiness, bent on pleasure, continue to be reborn and grow old.

Tasiṇāya purakkhatā pajā,Parisappanti sasova bandhito;Saṁyojanasaṅgasattakā,Dukkhamupenti punappunaṁ cirāya.

तसिणाय पुरक्खता पजा,परिसप्पन्ति ससोव बन्धितो ।संयोजनसङ्गसत्तका,दुक्खमुपेन्ति पुनप्पुनं चिराय ॥

People governed by thirst, crawl about like a trapped rabbit. Bound and fettered, for a long time they return to pain time and again.

Tasiṇāya purakkhatā pajā,Parisappanti sasova bandhito;Tasmā tasiṇaṁ vinodaye,Ākaṅkhanta virāgamattano.

तसिणाय पुरक्खता पजा,परिसप्पन्ति ससोव बन्धितो ।तस्मा तसिणं विनोदये,आकङ्खन्त विरागमत्तनो ॥

People governed by thirst, crawl about like a trapped rabbit. That’s why one who longs for dispassion should dispel thirst.

Yo nibbanatho vanādhimutto,Vanamutto vanameva dhāvati;Taṁ puggalametha passatha,Mutto bandhanameva dhāvati.

यो निब्बनथो वनाधिमुत्तो,वनमुत्तो वनमेव धावति ।तं पुग्गलमेथ पस्सथ,मुत्तो बन्धनमेव धावति ॥

Unsnarled, they set out for the jungle, then they run right back to the jungle they left behind. Just look at this individual! Freed, they run to bondage.

Na taṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā,Yadāyasaṁ dārujapabbajañca;Sārattarattā maṇikuṇḍalesu,Puttesu dāresu ca yā apekkhā.

न तं दळ्हं बन्धनमाहु धीरा,यदायसं दारुजपब्बजञ्च ।सारत्तरत्ता मणिकुण्डलेसु,पुत्तेसु दारेसु च या अपेक्खा ॥

The attentive say that shackle is not strong that’s made of iron, wood, or knots. But obsession with jeweled earrings, concern for your partners and children:

Etaṁ daḷhaṁ bandhanamāhu dhīrā,Ohārinaṁ sithilaṁ duppamuñcaṁ;Etampi chetvāna paribbajanti,Anapekkhino kāmasukhaṁ pahāya.

एतं दळ्हं बन्धनमाहु धीरा,ओहारिनं सिथिलं दुप्पमुञ्चं ।एतम्पि छेत्वान परिब्बजन्ति,अनपेक्खिनो कामसुखं पहाय ॥

this, say the attentive, is a strong shackle dragging the indulgent down, hard to escape. Having cut this one too they go forth, unconcerned, having given up sensual pleasures.

Ye rāgarattānupatanti sotaṁ,Sayaṅkataṁ makkaṭakova jālaṁ;Etampi chetvāna vajanti dhīrā,Anapekkhino sabbadukkhaṁ pahāya.

ये रागरत्तानुपतन्ति सोतं,सयङ्कतं मक्कटकोव जालं ।एतम्पि छेत्वान वजन्ति धीरा,अनपेक्खिनो सब्बदुक्खं पहाय ॥

Besotted by lust they fall into the stream, like a spider caught in the web she wove. The attentive proceed, having cut this one too, unconcerned, having given up all suffering.

Muñca pure muñca pacchato,Majjhe muñca bhavassa pāragū;Sabbattha vimuttamānaso,Na punaṁ jātijaraṁ upehisi.

मुञ्च पुरे मुञ्च पच्छतो,मज्झे मुञ्च भवस्स पारगू ।सब्बत्थ विमुत्तमानसो,न पुनं जातिजरं उपेहिसि ॥

Let go of the past, let go of the future, let go of the present, having gone beyond rebirth. With your heart freed in every respect, you’ll not come again to rebirth and old age.

Vitakkamathitassa jantuno,Tibbarāgassa subhānupassino;Bhiyyo taṇhā pavaḍḍhati,Esa kho daḷhaṁ karoti bandhanaṁ.

वितक्कमथितस्स जन्तुनो,तिब्बरागस्स सुभानुपस्सिनो ।भिय्यो तण्हा पवड्ढति,एस खो दळ्हं करोति बन्धनं ॥

For a personage churned by thoughts, very lustful, focusing on beauty, their craving grows and grows, tying them with a stout bond.

Vitakkūpasame ca yo rato,Asubhaṁ bhāvayate sadā sato;Esa kho byanti kāhiti,Esa checchati mārabandhanaṁ.

वितक्कूपसमे च यो रतो,असुभं भावयते सदा सतो ।एस खो ब्यन्ति काहिति,एस छेच्छति मारबन्धनं ॥

But one who loves to calm their thoughts, developing perception of ugliness, ever mindful, will surely eliminate that craving, cutting off the bonds of Māra.

Niṭṭhaṅgato asantāsī,vītataṇho anaṅgaṇo;Acchindi bhavasallāni,antimoyaṁ samussayo.

निट्ठङ्गतो असन्तासी,वीततण्हो अनङ्गणो ।अच्छिन्दि भवसल्लानि,अन्तिमोयं समुस्सयो ॥

One who is confident, unafraid, rid of craving, free of blemish, having struck down the arrows flying to future lives, this bag of bones is their last.

Vītataṇho anādāno,Niruttipadakovido;Akkharānaṁ sannipātaṁ,Jaññā pubbāparāni ca;Sa ve “antimasārīro,Mahāpañño mahāpuriso”ti vuccati.

वीततण्हो अनादानो,निरुत्तिपदकोविदो ।अक्खरानं सन्निपातं,जञ्ञा पुब्बापरानि च ।स वे “अन्तिमसारीरो,महापञ्ञो महापुरिसो”ति वुच्चति ॥

Rid of craving, free of grasping, expert in the definition of terms, knowing the correct structure and sequence of syllables, they are said to be one who bears their final body, one of great wisdom, a great person.

Hananti bhogā dummedhaṁ,no ca pāragavesino;Bhogataṇhāya dummedho,hanti aññeva attanaṁ.

हनन्ति भोगा दुम्मेधं,नो च पारगवेसिनो ।भोगतण्हाय दुम्मेधो,हन्ति अञ्ञेव अत्तनं ॥

Riches ruin a simpleton, but not a seeker of the far shore. From craving for wealth, a simpleton ruins themselves and others.

Tiṇadosāni khettāni,rāgadosā ayaṁ pajā;Tasmā hi vītarāgesu,dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.

तिणदोसानि खेत्तानि,रागदोसा अयं पजा ।तस्मा हि वीतरागेसु,दिन्नं होति महप्फलं ॥

Weeds are the bane of crops, but greed is these folk’s bane. That’s why a gift to one rid of greed is so very fruitful.

Tiṇadosāni khettāni,dosadosā ayaṁ pajā;Tasmā hi vītadosesu,dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.

तिणदोसानि खेत्तानि,दोसदोसा अयं पजा ।तस्मा हि वीतदोसेसु,दिन्नं होति महप्फलं ॥

Weeds are the bane of crops, but hate is these folk’s bane. That’s why a gift to one rid of hate is so very fruitful.

Tiṇadosāni khettāni,mohadosā ayaṁ pajā;Tasmā hi vītamohesu,dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.

तिणदोसानि खेत्तानि,मोहदोसा अयं पजा ।तस्मा हि वीतमोहेसु,दिन्नं होति महप्फलं ॥

Weeds are the bane of crops, but delusion is these folk’s bane. That’s why a gift to one rid of delusion is so very fruitful.

Tiṇadosāni khettāni,icchādosā ayaṁ pajā;Tasmā hi vigaticchesu,dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.Taṇhāvaggo catuvīsatimo.

तिणदोसानि खेत्तानि,इच्छादोसा अयं पजा ।तस्मा हि विगतिच्छेसु,दिन्नं होति महप्फलं ॥तण्हावग्गो चतुवीसतिमो ॥

Weeds are the bane of crops, but desire is these folk’s bane. That’s why a gift to one rid of desire is so very fruitful.