The body is fragile, consciousness is of a fading nature. All substrates of existence are impermanent, dissatisfactory, and subject to change.

ITI 77  Bhidura sutta - Fragile

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard:

“Bhidurāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kāyo, viññāṇaṁ virāgadhammaṁ, sabbe upadhī aniccā dukkhā vipariṇāmadhammā”ti.

“Bhikkhus, this body is fragile; |consciousness::quality of awareness — distinctive knowing that arises in dependence on the meeting of eye and form, ear and sound, nose and odor, tongue and taste, body and tangible object, mind and mind object [viññāṇa]| is of a fading nature. All substrates of |existence::attachments, assets [upadhi]| are |impermanent::not lasting, transient, unreliable [anicca]|, |dissatisfactory::uncomfortable, unpleasant [dukkha]|, and |subject to change::of the nature of alteration, decay [vipariṇāmadhamma]|.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

“Kāyañca bhiduraṁ ñatvā,
Viññāṇañca virāgunaṁ;
Upadhīsu bhayaṁ disvā,
Jātimaraṇamaccagā;
Sampatvā paramaṁ santiṁ,
Kālaṁ kaṅkhati bhāvitatto”ti.

“Having known the body as |fragile::breakable, perishable [bhidura]|,
and consciousness as of a fading nature;
Having seen the danger in substrates [of existence],
one overcomes birth and death;
Having attained the supreme peace,
the Awakened One calmly awaits his time [until final passing].”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard:

“Bhikkhus, this body is fragile; |consciousness::quality of awareness — distinctive knowing that arises in dependence on the meeting of eye and form, ear and sound, nose and odor, tongue and taste, body and tangible object, mind and mind object [viññāṇa]| is of a fading nature. All substrates of |existence::attachments, assets [upadhi]| are |impermanent::not lasting, transient, unreliable [anicca]|, |dissatisfactory::uncomfortable, unpleasant [dukkha]|, and |subject to change::of the nature of alteration, decay [vipariṇāmadhamma]|.”

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

“Having known the body as |fragile::breakable, perishable [bhidura]|,
and consciousness as of a fading nature;
Having seen the danger in substrates [of existence],
one overcomes birth and death;
Having attained the supreme peace,
the Awakened One calmly awaits his time [until final passing].”

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Bhidurāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kāyo, viññāṇaṁ virāgadhammaṁ, sabbe upadhī aniccā dukkhā vipariṇāmadhammā”ti.

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Kāyañca bhiduraṁ ñatvā,
Viññāṇañca virāgunaṁ;
Upadhīsu bhayaṁ disvā,
Jātimaraṇamaccagā;
Sampatvā paramaṁ santiṁ,
Kālaṁ kaṅkhati bhāvitatto”ti.

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Last updated on September 13, 2025

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