Theragāthā — Versos dos Monges Anciãos — 6.13 — Sirimaṇḍa

1The rain saturates things that are covered up;
it doesn’t saturate things that are open.
Therefore you should open up a covered thing,
so the rain will not saturate it.

2The world is beaten down by death
and surrounded by old age.
The dart of craving has struck it down,
and it’s always fuming with desire.

3The world is beaten down by death,
caged by old age,
beaten constantly without respite,
like a criminal being flogged.

4Three things are coming, like a wall of flame:
death, disease, and old age.
No power can stand before them,
and no speed’s enough to flee.

5Don’t waste your day,
a little or a lot.
Every night that passes
shortens your life by that much.

6Walking or standing,
sitting or lying down:
your final night draws near;
you have no time to be careless.