Snp 5.17

Piṅgiyamāṇavapucchā

“Jiṇṇohamasmi abalo vītavaṇṇo, (iccāyasmā piṅgiyo) Nettā na suddhā savanaṁ na phāsu; Māhaṁ nassaṁ momuho antarāva, Ācikkha dhammaṁ yamahaṁ vijaññaṁ; Jātijarāya idha vippahānaṁ”.

The Questions of Piṅgiya

“I am old, feeble, and pallid,” said Venerable Piṅgiya, “my eyes unclear, my hearing faint— don’t let me perish while still confused. Explain the teaching so that I may understand the giving up of rebirth and old age here.”

“Disvāna rūpesu vihaññamāne, (piṅgiyāti bhagavā) Ruppanti rūpesu janā pamattā; Tasmā tuvaṁ piṅgiya appamatto, Jahassu rūpaṁ apunabbhavāya”.

“Seeing them being harmed on account of forms,” replied the Buddha, “those negligent folk are inflicted on account of forms— therefore, Piṅgiya, being diligent, give up form so as not to be reborn.”

“Disā catasso vidisā catasso, Uddhaṁ adho dasa disā imāyo; Na tuyhaṁ adiṭṭhaṁ asutaṁ amutaṁ, Atho aviññātaṁ kiñcanamatthi loke; Ācikkha dhammaṁ yamahaṁ vijaññaṁ, Jātijarāya idha vippahānaṁ”.

“The four quarters, the intermediate directions, below, and above: in these ten directions there’s nothing at all in the world that you’ve not seen, heard, thought, or cognized. Explain the teaching so that I may understand the giving up of rebirth and old age here.”

“Taṇhādhipanne manuje pekkhamāno, (piṅgiyāti bhagavā) Santāpajāte jarasā parete; Tasmā tuvaṁ piṅgiya appamatto, Jahassu taṇhaṁ apunabbhavāyā”ti.

“Observing mankind sunk in craving,” replied the Buddha, “tormented, mired in old age; therefore, Piṅgiya, being diligent, give up craving so as not to be reborn.”