Thag 6.13 — Sirimaṇḍa

Text

Thag 6:13 Sirimaṇḍa

Rain soddens what’s covered
& doesn’t sodden what’s exposed.
So open up what’s covered up,
so that it won’t get soddened by the rain.1

  Attacked by death
    is the world,
  surrounded by aging,
  beset by the arrow of craving,
  always obscured by desire.

  Attacked by death
    is the world,
  & encircled by aging,
  constantly beaten, with no shelter,
    like a thief
    sentenced to punishment.

  They encroach like masses of flame,
    these three:
    death, aging, & illness.
  There’s no strength to confront them,
  no speed to run away.

  Make the day not-in-vain,
    a little or a lot.
  However much
  the day passes,
  that’s how much less
    is life.
  Your last day approaches.
    This isn’t your time
    to be heedless.

Note

1. This verse is identical with the verse in Ud 5:5.