Saɱyutta Nikāya
I. Sagātha Vagga
1. Devatā-saṅyutta
VI. Jarā Vagga
The Connected Discourses of the Buddha
I. The Book with Verses
1. Connected Discourses with Devatās
Suttas 51-60
VI.
Old Age
Translated from the Pāli by Bhikkhu Bodhi
Copyright Bhikkhu Bodhi 2000, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications, 2000)
This selection from The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Saɱyutta Nikāya by Bhikkhu Bodhi is reprinted with permission of Wisdom Publications, 199 Elm St., Somerville MA 02144 U.S.A
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Sutta 51
Jarā Suttaɱ
Old Age
[183] "What is good until old age?
What is good when established?
What is the precious gem of humans?
What is hard for thieves to steal?"
[The Blessed One:]
[184] "Virtue is good until old age;
Faith is good when established;
Wisdom is the precious gem of humans;
Merit is hard for thieves to steal."
Sutta 52
Ajarā Suttaɱ
Undecaying
[185] "What is good by not decaying?
What is good when made secure?
What is the precious gem of humans?
What cannot be stolen by thieves?"
[37] [186] "Virtue is good by not decaying;
Faith is good when made secure;
Wisdom is the precious gem of humans;
Merit cannot be stolen by thieves."
Sutta 53
Mitta Suttaɱ
The Friend
[187] "What is the friend of one on a journey?
What is the friend in one's own home?
What is the friend of one in need?
What is the friend in the future life?"
[188] "A caravan is the friend of one on a journey;
A mother is the friend in one's own home;
A comrade when the need arises
Is one's friend again and again.
The deeds of merit one has done —
That is the friend in the future life."
Sutta 54
Vatthu Suttaɱ
Support
[189] "What is the support of human beings?
What is the best companion here?
The creatures who dwell on the earth —
By what do they sustain their life?"
[190] "Sons are the support of human beings,
A wife the best companion;
The creatures who dwell on the earth
Sustain their life by rain."
Sutta 55
Paṭhama Jana Suttaɱ
Produces (1)
[191] "What is it that produces a person?
What does he have that runs around?
What enters upon saɱsāra?
What is his greatest fear?"
[192] "It is craving that produces a person;
His mind is what runs around;
A being enters upon saɱsāra;
Suffering is his greatest fear."
Sutta 56
Dutiya Jana Suttaɱ
Produces (2)
[193] "What is it that produces a person?
What does he have that runs around?
What enters upon saɱsāra?
From what is he not yet freed?"
[194] "Craving is what produces a person;
His mind is what runs around;
A being enters upon saɱsāra;
He is not freed from suffering."
Sutta 57
Tatiya Jana Suttaɱ
Produces (3)
[195] "What is it that produces a person?
What does he have that runs around?
What enters upon saɱsāra?
What determines his destiny?"
[196] "Craving is what produces a person;
His mind is what runs around;
A being enters upon saɱsāra;
Kamma determines his destiny."
Sutta 58
Uppatha Suttaɱ
The Deviant Path
[197] "What is declared the deviant path?
What undergoes destruction night and day?
What is the stain of the holy life?
What is the bath without water?"
[198] "Lust is declared the deviant path;
Life undergoes destruction night and day;
Women are the stain of the holy life:
Here menfolk are enmeshed.
Austerity and the holy life —
That is the bath without water."
Sutta 59
Dutiya Suttaɱ
Partner
[199] "What is a person's partner?
What is it that instructs him?
Taking delight in what is a mortal
Released from all suffering?"
[200] "Faith is a person's partner,
And wisdom is what instructs him.
Taking delight in Nibbāna, a mortal
Is released from all suffering."
Sutta 60
Kavi Suttaɱ
Poetry
[201] "What is the scaffolding of verses?
What constitutes their phrasing?
On what base do verses rest?
What is the abode of verses?"
[202] "Metre is the scaffolding of verses;
Syllables constitute their phrasing;
Verses rest on a base of names;
The poet is the abode of verses."
