“Kiṁ jīrati kiṁ na jīrati,
kiṁsu uppathoti vuccati;
Kiṁsu dhammānaṁ paripantho,
kiṁsu rattindivakkhayo;
Kiṁ malaṁ brahmacariyassa,
kiṁ sinānamanodakaṁ.
[A deity asked]: “What gets worn out, what does not get worn out?
What is said to be the wrong way?
What is the obstacle to wholesome states?
What wanes day and night?
What is the stain of the spiritual life?
What is the bath without water?
Kati lokasmiṁ chiddāni,
yattha vittaṁ na tiṭṭhati;
Bhagavantaṁ puṭṭhumāgamma,
kathaṁ jānemu taṁ mayan”ti.
How many fissures are there in the world
where one’s wealth does not last?
We have come to ask you, Blessed One:
how are we to understand this?”
“Rūpaṁ jīrati maccānaṁ,
nāmagottaṁ na jīrati;
Rāgo uppathoti vuccati.
[The Blessed One]: “The physical form of the mortals gets worn out,
their name and lineage do not get worn out;
passion is said to be the wrong way.
Lobho dhammānaṁ paripantho,
Vayo rattindivakkhayo;
Itthī malaṁ brahmacariyassa,
Etthāyaṁ sajjate pajā;
Tapo ca brahmacariyañca,
Taṁ sinānamanodakaṁ.
Greed is the obstacle to wholesome states,
lifespan wanes day and night.
opposite gender is the stain of the spiritual life,
in which this generation is entangled.
Spiritual practice and the spiritual life—
that is the bath without water.
Cha lokasmiṁ chiddāni,
yattha vittaṁ na tiṭṭhati;
Ālasyañca pamādo ca,
anuṭṭhānaṁ asaṁyamo;
Niddā tandī ca te chidde,
sabbaso taṁ vivajjaye”ti.
There are six fissures in the world,
where one’s wealth does not last;
laziness, negligence,
not making effort, non-restraint;
sleeping too much and sluggishness—
avoid these fissures in every way.”