English
Surrounded by an iron wall, enclosed by iron. Its ground is made of iron, blazing, endowed with heat; It stands spread out for a hundred yojanas all around, always. There I shall experience suffering, a long duration of pain; And the fruit of evil deeds, therefore I grieve greatly." "In front, he goes with a white elephant, in the middle, with a mule-chariot; And behind, a maiden is carried in a palanquin, illuminating the ten directions all around. But you, with maces in your hands, with weeping faces, with bodies cut and torn; What evil did you do as humans, by which you drink each other's blood?" "He who goes in front with the elephant, with the white four-gaited elephant; He is our son, a He, the eldest, having given gifts, rejoices happily. 76. He who is in the middle, with a mule-chariot, yoked with four, well-trained; He was our middle son, unselfish, a giver, he shines. 77. And she who is behind, carried in a palanquin, a wise woman, with deer-like eyes; She was our youngest daughter, with her portion, she rejoices happily. 78. And these gave gifts before, with joyful hearts to ascetics and brahmins; But we were stingy, revilers of ascetics and brahmins; And these, having given, attend to others, and we wither like a broken reed. 79. "What is your food, what is your bed? And how do you live, you evil-doers? When there were abundant, not few, possessions, having missed happiness, you have now reached suffering." 80. "Having struck each other, we drink pus and blood; Having drunk much, we are not satisfied, we are not clothed." 81. Thus do mortals lament, non-givers, having passed away, standing in Yama's realm; Those who, having known and obtained wealth, do not enjoy it, nor do they do merit. 82. They, overcome by hunger and thirst in the other world, later, for a long time, they burn, being consumed; Having done deeds that bring suffering, they experience suffering, bitter fruits. 83. Indeed, transient is wealth and grain, transient is life here; Knowing the transient as transient, a wise person should make an island. 84. Those who thus understand, people skilled in the Dhamma; They are not negligent in giving, having heard the words of the Arahants. 85. Like a snake its worn-out skin, having shed, goes with a new body; Thus, when the body is without enjoyment, when the departed one has passed away. 86. Burning, he does not know the lamentation of relatives; Therefore I do not weep for him, he has gone to whatever destiny is his. Uninvited he came from there, Unpermitted he went from here; As he came, so he went, What lamentation is there in that? Being burned, he does not know The lamentation of his relatives; Therefore, I do not weep for him, He has gone to whatever destination is his. If I were to weep, I would grow thin, What fruit would there be for me in that? For relatives, friends, and well-wishers, There would be more displeasure for us. Being burned, he does not know The lamentation of his relatives; Therefore, I do not weep for him, He has gone to whatever destination is his. Just as a child Cries after the moon as it goes; So exactly is this, Whoever grieves for the departed. Being burned, he does not know The lamentation of his relatives; Therefore, I do not weep for him, He has gone to whatever destination is his. Just as, O brahmin, a water pot, Broken, cannot be put back together; So exactly is this, Whoever grieves for the departed. Being burned, he does not know The lamentation of his relatives; Therefore, I do not weep for him, He has gone to whatever destination is his.