AN 3.51

Paṭhamadvebrāhmaṇasutta

Atha kho dve brāhmaṇā jiṇṇā vuddhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā vīsavassasatikā jātiyā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te brāhmaṇā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “mayamassu, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā jiṇṇā vuddhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā vīsavassasatikā jātiyā; te camhā akatakalyāṇā akatakusalā akatabhīruttāṇā. Ovadatu no bhavaṁ gotamo, anusāsatu no bhavaṁ gotamo yaṁ amhākaṁ assa dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti.

Two Brahmins (1st)

Then two old brahmins—elderly and senior, who were advanced in years and had reached the final stage of life, a hundred and twenty years old—went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha: “We brahmins, worthy Gotama, are old, elderly and senior, we’re advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life; we’re a hundred and twenty years old. And we haven’t done what is good and skillful, nor have we made a shelter from fear. Advise us, worthy Gotama, instruct us! It will be for our lasting welfare and happiness.”

“Taggha tumhe, brāhmaṇā, jiṇṇā vuddhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā vīsavassasatikā jātiyā; te cattha akatakalyāṇā akatakusalā akatabhīruttāṇā. Upanīyati kho ayaṁ, brāhmaṇā, loko jarāya byādhinā maraṇena. Evaṁ upanīyamāne kho, brāhmaṇā, loke jarāya byādhinā maraṇena, yo idha kāyena saṁyamo vācāya saṁyamo manasā saṁyamo, taṁ tassa petassa tāṇañca leṇañca dīpañca saraṇañca parāyaṇañcāti.

“Indeed, brahmins, you’re old, elderly and senior. And you haven’t done what is good and skillful, nor have you made a shelter from fear. This world is led onward by old age, sickness, and death. But restraint here by way of body, speech, and mind is the shelter, asylum, island, refuge, and final haven for the departed.

Upanīyati jīvitamappamāyu, Jarūpanītassa na santi tāṇā; Etaṁ bhayaṁ maraṇe pekkhamāno, Puññāni kayirātha sukhāvahāni.

This life, so very short, is led onward. One led on to old age has no shelter. Seeing this peril in death, do good deeds that bring you joy.

Yodha kāyena saṁyamo, Vācāya uda cetasā; Taṁ tassa petassa sukhāya hoti, Yaṁ jīvamāno pakaroti puññan”ti.

The restraint practiced here— of body, speech, and mind— leads the departed to happiness, as the good deeds done while living.”