Inspired utterance on practicing diligently to leave behind what seems pleasant.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa upāsakassa ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato hoti.
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. At that time, the only beloved and pleasing son of a certain lay disciple had died.
Atha kho sambahulā upāsakā allavatthā allakesā divā divassa yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te upāsake bhagavā etadavoca: “kiṁ nu kho tumhe, upāsakā, allavatthā allakesā idhūpasaṅkamantā divā divassā”ti?
Then, many lay disciples with wet clothes and wet hair approached the Blessed One during the day; having approached and saluted the Blessed One, they sat down to one side. While sitting to one side, the Blessed One said to the lay disciples: “Why do you approach here during the day with wet clothes and wet hair?”
Evaṁ vutte, so upāsako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “mayhaṁ kho, bhante, ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato. Tena mayaṁ allavatthā allakesā idhūpasaṅkamantā divā divassā”ti.
Thus spoken, that lay disciple said to the Blessed One: “My only beloved and pleasing son has died, venerable sir. Therefore, we approach here during the day with wet clothes and wet hair.”
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then, understanding the significance of this, the Blessed One at that time expressed this inspired utterance:
“Piyarūpassādagadhitāse,
Devakāyā puthu manussā ca;
Aghāvino parijunnā,
Maccurājassa vasaṁ gacchanti.
“Those bound by pleasure in what is dear,
Both deities and many humans;
Troubled, suffering misfortune, decayed,
go under the control of the King of Death.
Ye ve divā ca ratto ca,
Appamattā jahanti piyarūpaṁ;
Te ve khaṇanti aghamūlaṁ,
Maccuno āmisaṁ durativattan”ti.
The diligent, who day and night,
leave behind what seems pleasant;
dig out the root of misery —
Death’s bait so hard to escape.”
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. At that time, the only beloved and pleasing son of a certain lay disciple had died.
Then, many lay disciples with wet clothes and wet hair approached the Blessed One during the day; having approached and saluted the Blessed One, they sat down to one side. While sitting to one side, the Blessed One said to the lay disciples: “Why do you approach here during the day with wet clothes and wet hair?”
Thus spoken, that lay disciple said to the Blessed One: “My only beloved and pleasing son has died, venerable sir. Therefore, we approach here during the day with wet clothes and wet hair.”
Then, understanding the significance of this, the Blessed One at that time expressed this inspired utterance:
“Those bound by pleasure in what is dear,
Both deities and many humans;
Troubled, suffering misfortune, decayed,
go under the control of the King of Death.
The diligent, who day and night,
leave behind what seems pleasant;
dig out the root of misery —
Death’s bait so hard to escape.”
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa upāsakassa ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato hoti.
Atha kho sambahulā upāsakā allavatthā allakesā divā divassa yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te upāsake bhagavā etadavoca: “kiṁ nu kho tumhe, upāsakā, allavatthā allakesā idhūpasaṅkamantā divā divassā”ti?
Evaṁ vutte, so upāsako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “mayhaṁ kho, bhante, ekaputtako piyo manāpo kālaṅkato. Tena mayaṁ allavatthā allakesā idhūpasaṅkamantā divā divassā”ti.
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
“Piyarūpassādagadhitāse,
Devakāyā puthu manussā ca;
Aghāvino parijunnā,
Maccurājassa vasaṁ gacchanti.
Ye ve divā ca ratto ca,
Appamattā jahanti piyarūpaṁ;
Te ve khaṇanti aghamūlaṁ,
Maccuno āmisaṁ durativattan”ti.