Thag 2.37 — Soṇapoṭiriya

English translation by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.

Translation

Text

Thag 2:37 Soṇa Poṭiriyaputta

It’s not for sleeping,
    the night garlanded
    with zodiac stars.
The night, for one who knows,
    is for staying awake.

If I were to fall from my elephant’s shoulder,
and a tusker trampled me,
death in battle would be better for me,
than that I, defeated,
        survive.