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Why this laughter, why this joy,
when it’s ever blazing?
Shrouded all about in gloom
won’t you look for the light?
Explanation: When you are perpetually burning with the flames of passion, what laughter, what pleasure? When you are enveloped in the darkness of ignorance, why do you not seek the light of Wisdom to dispel that darkness?
See this body beautiful
a mass of sores, a congeries,
much considered but miserable
where nothing’s stable, nothing persists.
Explanation: This body has no permanent existence. It is in fact a body of sores. It is diseased. It is propped up by many kinds of bones. It is considered by many to be good. It is well thought of by many. It is glamorously made up. Observe the true nature of the body.
All decrepit is this body,
diseases’ nest and frail;
this foul mass is broken up
for life does end in death
Explanation: This form – this body – is fully broken down. It is truly a den of diseases. It disintegrates easily. Out of its nine orifices, putrid matter oozes constantly. It breaks apart. Death puts an end to it.
These dove-hued bones
scattered in Fall,
like long white gourds,
what joy in seeing them?
Explanation: In the dry autumnal season, one can see bones and skulls strewn around. These dry grey-hued skulls are like gourds thrown here and there. Seeing this, whoever will lust?.
This city’s made of bones
plastered with flesh and blood,
within are stored decay and death,
besmearing and conceit.
Explanation: This body is made of bones which form its structure. This bare structure is plastered and filled with flesh and blood. Inside this citadel are deposited decay, death, pride and ingratitude.
Even royal chariots rot,
the body too does rot, decay,
but undecaying’s Dhamma of the Good
who to the good declare.
Explanation: Such beautiful and attractive objects as the carriages of kings also disintegrate. The human body too decays. But, the experience of truth never decays. The calm ones experience this truth.
Just as the ox grows old
so this man of little learning:
his fleshiness increases,
his wisdom doesn’t grow.
Explanation: The person who has scarcely heard the Teaching grows in physique, like a fattened bull. Although his body grows, his self understanding does not.
Trough many of samsara’s births
I hasten seeking, finding not
the builder of this house:
pain is birth again, again.
Explanation: This tour, this cycle of existence, has run through numerous births without encountering, the builder, the creator of the world and self. For repeated birth is painful.
O builder of this house you’re seen,
you shall not build a house again,
all your beams have given away,
rafters of the ridge decayed,
mind to the unconditioned gone,
exhaustion of craving has it reached.
Explanation: Verses 153 and 154 were spoken by the Buddha immediately after his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, and at a later time was recited to Venerable Ananda in an answer to a question).
Who have not led the holy life
nor riches won while young,
they linger on as aged cranes
around a fished-out pond.
Explanation: In youth they did not lead the higher spiritual life. Nor did they acquire wealth when they were young. Now they are old and incapable. They are similar to those old emaciated, old flightless storks who are sighing away at the bank of a lake without fish. The fish are gone because others have caught them.
Who have not led the holy life
nor riches won while young,
they languish on, worn-out bows,
sighing for the past.
Explanation: This verse captures a situation that is universally true. Most people tend to spend their youth squandering the precious days with no though about the inevitable old-age that will overtake them. Youth is allow to slip by without having garnered either material or spiritual wealth. The Buddha’s admonition to mankind in this passage, is that they must, in time, become mindful of the passage of time and the speedy fading of the glamour of youth.
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