SN 1.80 Lamp

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Kiṁsu lokasmi pajjoto,

“What’s the lamp for the world?

kiṁsu lokasmi jāgaro;

What in the world is wakeful?

Kiṁsu kamme sajīvānaṁ,

Who are one’s work colleagues?

kimassa iriyāpatho.

What is one’s walk of life?

Kiṁsu alasaṁ analasañca,

What nurtures the idle and the tireless,

Mātā puttaṁva posati;

like a mother her child?

Kiṁ bhūtā upajīvanti,

By what do the creatures who live off the earth

Ye pāṇā pathavissitā”ti.

sustain their life?”

“Paññā lokasmi pajjoto,

“Wisdom is the lamp for the world.

sati lokasmi jāgaro;

Mindfulness in the world is wakeful.

Gāvo kamme sajīvānaṁ,

Cattle are one’s work colleagues,

sītassa iriyāpatho.

and the furrow is one’s walk of life.

Vuṭṭhi alasaṁ analasañca,

Rain nurtures the idle and the tireless,

Mātā puttaṁva posati;

like a mother her child.

Vuṭṭhiṁ bhūtā upajīvanti,

The creatures who live off the earth

Ye pāṇā pathavissitā”ti.

sustain their life by rain.”