स्त्रीपुंसयोर्न्नवं रूपं तदान्योन्यं प्रियं पुरा
The fresh beauty of man and woman, which was once mutually dear,
अपूर्ववत्स्वमात्मानं जरया परिवर्तितः
Like something unprecedented, one's own self is transformed by old age.
जराभिभूतः पुरुषः पत्नीपुत्रादिबांधवैः 4.4.
A man overcome by old age is surrounded by his wife, sons, and other relatives.
धर्ममर्थं च कामं च मोक्षं च न जरी यतः
Because of old age, he no longer pursues righteousness, wealth, desire, or liberation.
वातपित्तकफादीनां वैषम्यं व्याधिरुच्यते
Disease is said to be the disturbance of wind, bile, phlegm, and the like.
वाताद्यव्यतिरिक्तत्वाद्व्याधीनां पञ्जरस्य च तानि च स्वात्मवेद्यानि किमन्यत्कथयाम्यहम्
Because diseases and the body’s cage are not separate from wind and so on, and since these are known by oneself, what else should I say?
एकोत्तरं मृत्युशतमस्मिन्देहे प्रतिष्ठितम्
In this body, one hundred and one forms of death are established.
ये त्विहागंतवः प्रोक्तास्ते प्रशाम्यंति भेषजैः
Those diseases that are said to be incidental here are calmed by medicines.
यदि चापि न मृत्युः स्याद्विषमद्यादशंकितः
And even if death does not occur, one is afflicted by poison, wine, and other dangers.
विविधा व्याधयः शस्त्रं सर्पाद्याः प्राणिनस्तथा
Various diseases, weapons, serpents, and other beings also threaten life.
पीडितं सर्वरोगाद्यैरपि धन्वन्तरिः स्वयम्
Even if Dhanvantari himself were present, one tormented by all diseases cannot be saved.
नौषधं न तपो दानं न मंत्रा न च बांधवाः
Neither medicine, nor austerity, nor charity, nor mantras, nor relatives can help.
रसायनतपोजप्यैर्योगसिद्धैर्महात्मभिः 4.4.
Not even by elixirs, austerities, recitations, yogic powers, or the efforts of great souls.
नास्ति मृत्युसमं दुःखं नास्ति मृत्युसमं भयम्
There is no suffering like death, nor is there any fear like death.
सद्भार्यापुत्रमित्राणि राज्यैश्वर्यध नानि च
A good wife, sons, friends, kingdom, and wealth—
हे जनाः किं न पश्यध्वं सहस्रस्यापि मध्यतः
O people, do you not see, even among a thousand,
अशीतिका विपद्यन्ते केचित्सप्ततिका नराः
Some men die at eighty, some at seventy.
यस्य यावद्भवेदायुर्देहिनां पूर्वकर्मभिः
For embodied beings, the span of life is as much as is determined by their past actions.
बालभावेन मोहेन वार्द्धक्ये जरया तथा
Through childishness, delusion, and in old age through decrepitude,
आगंतुकेर्भयैः पुंसां व्याधिशोकैरनेकधा
Men are afflicted in many ways by fears that come, by diseases, and by sorrows.
जीवितांते च मरणं महाघोरमवाप्नुयात्
At the end of life, one attains a most terrible death.
देहभेदेन यः पुंसां वियोगः कर्मसंक्षयात्
The separation of a person's body occurs through the exhaustion of karma.
महातपप्रविष्टस्य च्छिद्यमानेषु मर्मसु 4.4.
For one who has entered great austerity, as the vital points are being severed—
हा तात मातः कांतेति रुदन्नेवं हि दुःखितः
He, afflicted, weeps, 'Alas, father! Mother! Beloved!'
बांधवैः संपरिष्वक्तः प्रियैः स परिवारितः
Embraced by relatives and surrounded by loved ones,
क्रन्दते चैव खट्वायां परिवर्तन्मुहुर्मुहुः
He cries out on the bed, turning again and again.
खट्वातो कांक्षते भूमिं भूमेः खट्वां पुनर्महीम्
From the bed he longs for the ground, and from the ground again for the bed.
याचमानश्च सलिलं शुष्ककण्ठोष्ठतालुकः
Begging for water, his throat, lips, and palate are parched.
पञ्चावटान्खन्यमानः कालपाशेन कर्षितः
As the five burial pits are being dug, he is dragged by the noose of time.
जीवस्तृणजलौकेव देहाद्देहं विशेत्क्रमात्
The soul, like a leech on grass or water, gradually enters from body to body.