[351] 5.
Craving (taṇhā) grows for a person who lives heedlessly,
like a māluvā creeper;
he drifts on from existence to existence,
like a monkey desiring fruit in the forest.
Whomever this wretched craving,
the entangler (visattikā) in the world, overcomes,
his sorrows grow,
like vīraṇa grass when rained upon.
But whoever overcomes this wretched craving,
so hard to get beyond in the world,
sorrows fall away from him,
like a drop of water from a lotus leaf.
This I say to you — good fortune to you! —
as many as are gathered here:
dig up the root of craving,
as one seeking the fragrant usīra root digs up vīraṇa grass.
Do not let Māra break you again and again,
as a stream breaks a reed.
Carry out the word of the Buddha;
do not let the moment pass by;
for those who have let the moment pass
grieve, consigned to hell (niraya).
Heedlessness is dust;
dust follows in the wake of heedlessness.
By heedfulness, by true knowledge (vijjā),
let one draw out the dart from oneself.
The Elder Māluṅkyaputta.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.