SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 48 Linked Discourses on the Faculties – Indriyasaṁyutta > SN 48.41 Old Age

Linked Discourses 48.41 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 48.41

5. Old Age – 5. Jarāvagga

SN 48.41 Old Age – Jarādhammasutta

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the Eastern Monastery, the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.

Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and sat warming his back in the last rays of the sun.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito pacchātape nisinno hoti piṭṭhiṁ otāpayamāno.

Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, and while massaging the Buddha’s limbs he said:

Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā bhagavato gattāni pāṇinā anomajjanto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing,

“acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante.

how the complexion of your skin is no longer pure and bright. Your limbs are flaccid and wrinkled, and your body is stooped. And it’s apparent that there has been a deterioration in your faculties

Na cevaṁ dāni, bhante, bhagavato tāva parisuddho chavivaṇṇo pariyodāto, sithilāni ca gattāni sabbāni valiyajātāni, purato pabbhāro ca kāyo, dissati ca indriyānaṁ aññathattaṁ—

of eye, ear, nose, tongue, and body.”

cakkhundriyassa sotindriyassa ghānindriyassa jivhindriyassa kāyindriyassā”ti.

“That’s how it is, Ānanda.

“Evañhetaṁ, ānanda, hoti—

When young you’re liable to grow old; when healthy you’re liable to get sick; and when alive you’re liable to die.

jarādhammo yobbaññe, byādhidhammo ārogye, maraṇadhammo jīvite.

The complexion of the skin is no longer pure and bright. The limbs are flaccid and wrinkled, and the body is stooped. And it’s apparent that there has been a deterioration in the faculties

Na ceva tāva parisuddho hoti chavivaṇṇo pariyodāto, sithilāni ca honti gattāni sabbāni valiyajātāni, purato pabbhāro ca kāyo, dissati ca indriyānaṁ aññathattaṁ—

of eye, ear, nose, tongue, and body.”

cakkhundriyassa sotindriyassa ghānindriyassa jivhindriyassa kāyindriyassā”ti.

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

Idaṁ vatvā ca sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

“Curse this wretched old age,

“Dhī taṁ jammi jare atthu,

which makes you so ugly.

dubbaṇṇakaraṇī jare;

That’s how much this delightful puppet

Tāva manoramaṁ bimbaṁ,

is ground down by old age.

jarāya abhimadditaṁ.

Even if you live for a hundred years,

Yopi vassasataṁ jīve,

you’ll still end up dying.

sopi maccuparāyaṇo;

Death spares no-one,

Na kiñci parivajjeti,

but crushes all underfoot.”

sabbamevābhimaddatī”ti.