AN 3.51  Paṭhama dvebrāhmaṇa sutta - Two Brahmins (First)

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:

Then two brahmins—old, aged, elderly, advanced in years, come to the last stage, a hundred and twenty years old from their birth—approached the Blessed One. Having approached, they exchanged greetings with the Blessed One. After exchanging courteous and polite conversation, they sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, those brahmins said to the Blessed One:

“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.

“Sir Gotama, we are brahmins—old, aged, elderly, advanced in years, come to the last stage, a hundred and twenty years of age. Yet, we have not done what is good, we have not done what is |wholesome::healthy, beneficial, useful [kusala]|, we have not made a shelter from fear. Let sir Gotama exhort us, let sir Gotama instruct us, so that it may be for our welfare and happiness for a long time.”

“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 are old, aged, elderly, advanced in years, come to the last stage, a hundred and twenty years of age; and you have not done what is good, have not done what is wholesome, have not made a shelter from fear. This world, brahmins, is being swept away by old age, sickness, and death. When the world is thus being swept away by old age, sickness, and death, whatever |restraint::self-control [saṁyama]| there is here in body, restraint in speech, and restraint in mind—that is the shelter, the cave, the island, the refuge, and the support for one who has passed away.

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

Life ebbs away, its span is short,
for one brought to old age, there are no shelters;
clearly seeing this danger in death,
one should do meritorious deeds that bring happiness.

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

Whatever restraint there is here in body,
in speech, or in mind;
that is for the happiness of one who has passed away,
the meritorious deeds made while alive.”