Aṇguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
VI. Brāhmaṇa Vagga
Sutta 51 [DTO #52]
Paṭhama Dve Brāhmaṇa (Dvejana) Suttaṃ
Two People (1)
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
Provenance, terms and conditons
[51][pts][bodh] On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Sāvatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery.
Then two brahmans
— feeble old men, aged, advanced in years,
having come to the last stage of life,
120 years old —
went to the Blessed One.
On arrival, they exchanged courteous greetings with him
and, after an exchange of friendly greetings and courtesies,
sat to one side.
As they were sitting there,
they said to him:
"Master Gotama, we are brahmans
— feeble old men, aged, advanced in years,
having come to the last stage of life,
120 years old.
And we have done no admirable deeds,
no skillful deeds,
no deeds that allay our fears.
Teach us, Master Gotama.
Instruct us, Master Gotama,
for our long-term benefit and happiness."
"Indeed, brahmans,
you are feeble old men, aged, advanced in years,
having come to the last stage of life,
120 years old.
And you have done no admirable deeds,
no skillful deeds,
no deeds that allay your fears.
This world is swept away
by aging, by illness, by death.
With the world thus swept away
by aging, illness, and death,
any restraint of body, speech, and intellect
practiced here
will be one's shelter, cave, island,
and refuge after death
in the world beyond."
It's swept along:
life, its next-to-nothing span.
For one swept on by aging
no shelters exist.
Keeping sight of this danger in death,
do meritorious deeds
that bring bliss.
When you're restrained here
in body, speech, and awareness,
when you make merit while still alive:
that will be for your bliss after death.
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