Thag 6.5

Mālukyaputtattheragāthā

“Manujassa pamattacārino, Taṇhā vaḍḍhati māluvā viya; So plavatī hurā huraṁ, Phalamicchaṁva vanasmi vānaro.

Māluṅkyaputta (1st)

When a man lives heedlessly, craving grows in them like a camel’s foot creeper. They jump from one thing to the next, like a langur greedy for fruit in a forest grove.

Yaṁ esā sahate jammī, taṇhā loke visattikā; Sokā tassa pavaḍḍhanti, abhivaṭṭhaṁva bīraṇaṁ.

Whoever is beaten by this wretched craving, this attachment to the world, their sorrow grows, like grass in the rain.

Yo cetaṁ sahate jammiṁ, taṇhaṁ loke duraccayaṁ; Sokā tamhā papatanti, udabindūva pokkharā.

But whoever prevails over this wretched craving, so hard to get over in the world, their sorrows fall from them, like a drop from a lotus-leaf.

Taṁ vo vadāmi bhaddaṁ vo, yāvantettha samāgatā; Taṇhāya mūlaṁ khaṇatha, usīratthova bīraṇaṁ; Mā vo naḷaṁva sotova, māro bhañji punappunaṁ.

I say this to you, good people, all those who have gathered here: dig up the root of craving, as you’d dig up the grass in search of roots. Don’t let Māra break you again and again, like a stream breaking a reed.

Karotha buddhavacanaṁ, khaṇo vo mā upaccagā; Khaṇātītā hi socanti, nirayamhi samappitā.

Act on the Buddha’s words, don’t let the moment pass you by. For if you miss your moment you’ll grieve when sent to hell.

Pamādo rajo pamādo, pamādānupatito rajo; Appamādena vijjāya, abbahe sallamattano”ti.

Negligence is always dust; dust follows right behind negligence. Through diligence and knowledge, pluck out the dart from yourself.