Dhammapada · Chapter 11
Old Age
11 verses · The body decays, the bones whiten, life ends — yet the foolish chase pleasure. Tradition holds this chapter contains the Buddha's enlightenment utterance: house-builder, you are seen; the rafters are broken, craving is destroyed.
Chapter 11
जरावग्गो
Jarāvagga
11.1
What is this laughter, what this joy, when the world is forever ablaze
11.2
Behold this painted image — a body of sores, propped up, full of imagining, in which…
11.3
Worn out is this form, a nest of disease, fragile
11.4
These dove-grey bones, cast away like gourds in autumn — seeing them, what delight remains
11.5
A city of bones is built, plastered with flesh and blood — in which old age and death,…
11.6
Well-adorned royal chariots wear out, and likewise the body approaches old age
11.7
This person of little learning grows old like an ox — his flesh increases, but his wisdom…
11.8
Through many a birth in samsara I wandered, not finding — seeking the house-builder
11.9
House-builder
11.10
Those who have not lived the holy life, who have not gained wealth in their youth, pine…
11.11
Those who have not lived the holy life and gained no wealth in youth lie down like spent…