SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 3 Connected Discourses With King Pasenadi of Kosala – Kosalasaṁyutta > SN 3.3 Old Age and Death

Linked Discourses 3.3 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 3.3

1. Shackles – 1. Paṭhamavagga

SN 3.3 Old Age and Death – Jarāmaraṇasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Seated to one side, King Pasenadi said to the Buddha,

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, for someone who has been reborn, is there any exemption from old age and death?”

“atthi nu kho, bhante, jātassa aññatra jarāmaraṇā”ti?

“Great king, for someone who has been reborn, there’s no exemption from old age and death.

“Natthi kho, mahārāja, jātassa aññatra jarāmaraṇā.

Even for well-to-do aristocrats,

Yepi te, mahārāja, khattiyamahāsālā aḍḍhā mahaddhanā mahābhogā pahūtajātarūparajatā pahūtavittūpakaraṇā pahūtadhanadhaññā, tesampi jātānaṁ natthi aññatra jarāmaraṇā.

brahmins,

Yepi te, mahārāja, brāhmaṇamahāsālā …pe…

or householders—rich, affluent, and wealthy, with lots of gold and silver, lots of property and assets, and lots of money and grain—when they’re born, there’s no exemption from old age and death.

gahapatimahāsālā aḍḍhā mahaddhanā mahābhogā pahūtajātarūparajatā pahūtavittūpakaraṇā pahūtadhanadhaññā, tesampi jātānaṁ natthi aññatra jarāmaraṇā.

Even for bhikkhū who are perfected—who have ended the defilements, completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their own goal, utterly ended the fetters of rebirth, and are rightly freed through enlightenment—their bodies are liable to break up and be laid to rest.”

Yepi te, mahārāja, bhikkhū arahanto khīṇāsavā vusitavanto katakaraṇīyā ohitabhārā anuppattasadatthā parikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojanā sammadaññāvimuttā, tesampāyaṁ kāyo bhedanadhammo nikkhepanadhammo”ti.

That is what the Buddha said. …

Idamavoca …pe…

“The fancy chariots of kings wear out,

“Jīranti ve rājarathā sucittā,

and this body too gets old.

Atho sarīrampi jaraṁ upeti;

But goodness never gets old:

Satañca dhammo na jaraṁ upeti,

so the true and the good proclaim.”

Santo have sabbhi pavedayantī”ti.