The Mountain

Yathāpi selā vipulā

Nabhaṃ āhacca pabbatā

Samantā anupariyeyyuṃ

Nippothentā catuddisā

Like gigantic boulders,

Mountains reaching to the sky

Moving in from all sides,

crushing the four directions,

Evaṃ jarā ca maccu ca

Adhivattanti pāṇino

Khattiye brāhmaṇe vesse

Sudde caṇḍāla-pukkuse

In the same way, aging & death

Roll over living beings:

Noble warriors, brahmans, merchants,

workers, outcastes, & scavengers.

Na kiñci parivajjeti

Sabbam-evābhimaddati

Na tattha hatthīnaṃ bhūmi

Na rathānaṃ na pattiyā

Na cāpi manta-yuddhena

Sakkā jetuṃ dhanena vā

They spare nothing,

They trample everything.

Here elephants can hold no ground

Nor can chariots or infantry.

Nor can a battle of spells

Or wealth win out.

Tasmā hi paṇḍito poso

Sampassaṃ attham-attano

Buddhe Dhamme ca Saṅghe ca

Dhīro saddhaṃ nivesaye

So a wise person,

Seeing his own good,

Secures firm conviction

In the Buddha, Dhamma, & Sangha.

Yo dhammacārī kāyena

Vācāya uda cetasā

Idh'eva naṃ pasaṃsati

Pecca sagge pamodati.

He who practices the Dhamma

In thought, word, & deed,

receives praise here on earth

And after death rejoices in heaven.