उद्भिन्नवासनाजालमूलत्वाद् दुर्बलाकृतिः । व्यायामविरमः कायवृक्षो ऽयं न सुखाय मे
Because it is weak in form, being rooted in the net of emerging tendencies, this tree of the body, lacking vigor, is not a source of happiness for me.
कलेवरम् अहङ्कारगृहस्थस्य महागृहम् । लुठत्व् अभ्येतु वा स्थैर्यं किम् अनेन मुने हि मे
The body is a great house for the householder called ego; whether it collapses or stands firm, what does its stability matter to me, O sage?
पङ्क्तिबद्धेन्द्रियपशु वल्गत्तृष्णागृहाङ्गनम् । रजोरञ्जितसर्वाङ्गं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
This house of the body, with its senses lined up like cattle, its chambers filled with restless cravings, and all its limbs stained by passion, is not desirable to me.
काष्ठास्थिकाष्ठसङ्घट्टपरिसङ्कटकोटरम् । अन्त्रदामभिर् आबद्धं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
This house of the body, cramped with the collision of bones and wood-like joints, bound together by cords of entrails, is not desirable to me.
प्रसृतस्नायुतन्त्रीकं रक्ताम्बुकृतकर्दमम् । जरामक्कोलधवलं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
This house of the body, stretched with sinews and tendons, muddied by the red fluid of blood, and whitened by the ashes of old age, is not desirable to me.
चित्रकृत्यभृतानन्तचेष्टावष्टब्धसंस्थिति । मिथ्यामोहमहास्थूणं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
This house of the body, filled with endless activities and postures, firmly established in vain delusion, and supported by the great pillar of false attachment, is not desirable to me.
दुःखार्भककृताक्रन्दं सुखशय्यामनोहरम् । दुरीहादग्धदासीकं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
This house of the body, resounding with the cries caused by the sufferings of hunger and thirst, seemingly delightful as a bed of pleasure, yet with its maidservant scorched by futile desires, is not desirable to me.
मलाढ्यविषयव्यूहभाण्डोपस्करसङ्कटम् । अज्ञानक्षारवलितं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
This house of the body, crowded with the vessels and implements of sense-objects filled with impurity, and steeped in the alkaline poison of ignorance, is not desirable to me.
गुल्फगुल्गुलुविश्रान्तजानूच्चस्तम्भमस्तकम् । दीर्घदोर्दारुसुदृढं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
This house of the body, with its feet resting on the ankles, knees as pillars, and head as the top, with long, wooden-like, sturdy arms, is not dear to me.
प्रकटाक्षगवाक्षान्तःक्रीडत्प्रज्ञागृहाङ्गनम् । चिन्तादुहितृकं ब्रह्मन् नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
O Brahman, this house of the body, with its manifest eyes as windows, the courtyard of intellect where thoughts play, and worry as its daughter, is not dear to me.
मूर्धजच्छादनच्छन्नकर्णश्रीचन्द्रशालिकम् । आदीर्घाङ्गुलिनिर्यूहं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
This house of the body, with hair covering the head as a roof, ears as beautiful moon-shaped turrets, and long fingers as projecting beams, is not dear to me.
सर्वाङ्गकुड्यसञ्जातघनरोमयवाङ्कुरम् । संशून्यपीठपिठिरं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
This house of the body, with dense hair sprouts growing on all its walls, and an empty seat as its back, is not dear to me.
नखोर्णनाभनिलयैश् शारम् आरणितान्तरम् । भाङ्कारकारिपवनं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
This house of the body, with nails, bones, and navel as its foundation, the intestines as its inner wood, and the wind that produces various sounds, is not dear to me.
प्रवेशनिर्गमव्यग्रवातवेगम् अनारतम् । वितताक्षगवाक्षं च नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
This house of the body, with its windows (eyes) always open, and the restless wind of breath constantly entering and exiting, is not dear to me.
जिह्वामर्कटिकाक्रान्तवदनद्वारभीषणम् । दृष्टदन्तास्थिशकलं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
This house of the body, with its mouth as a dreadful door occupied by the monkey-like tongue, and visible fragments of teeth and bones, is not dear to me.
त्वक्सुधालेपमसृणं यन्त्रसञ्चारचञ्चलम् । मनोऽमन्दाखुनोत्खातं नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
This house of the body, with its skin as a smooth plaster, ever restless with mechanical movements, and mind ceaselessly dug by the sharp spade of desire, is not dear to me.
स्मितदीपप्रभाभासि क्षणम् आनन्दसुन्दरम् । क्षणं व्याप्तं प्रभापूरैर् नेष्टं देहगृहं मम
For a moment, my body shines with the glow of a smiling lamp, appearing beautiful in bliss; for a moment, it is filled with floods of radiance, yet this house of flesh is not pleasing to me.
समस्तरोगायतनं वलीपलितपत्तनम् । सर्वाधिसारङ्गवनं नेष्टं मम कलेवरम्
My body is the abode of all diseases, a city of wrinkles and gray hairs, a forest teeming with every affliction; it is not dear to me.
अक्षर्क्षक्षोभविषमा शून्या निस्सारकोटरा । तमोगहनहृत्कुञ्जा नेष्टा देहाटवी मम
It is a hollow, empty cavity, disturbed by the senses and harsh, a thicket of darkness in the heart; this body-forest is not pleasing to me.
देहालयं धारयितुं न शक्तो ऽस्मि मुनीश्वराः । पङ्कमग्नं समुद्धर्तुं गजम् अल्पबलो यथा
O revered sages, I am unable to sustain this dwelling of the body, just as one with little strength cannot lift an elephant stuck in the mud.
किं श्रिया किं च कायेन किं कामेन किम् ईहया । दिनैः कतिपयैर् एव कालस् सर्वं निकृन्तति
What is the use of wealth, of the body, of desire, or of striving? In just a few days, time cuts down everything.
रक्तमांसमयस्यास्य सबाह्याभ्यन्तरं मुने । नाशैकधर्मिणो ब्रूहि केव कायस्य रम्यता
O sage, this body, made of flesh and blood, inside and out, is destined only for destruction; tell me, what delight can there be in the body?
मरणावसरे काया जीवं नानुसरन्ति ये । तेषु तात कृतघ्नेषु केवास्था वत धीमतः
At the moment of death, the body does not follow the soul; so, father, what faith can the wise place in such an ungrateful thing?
मत्तेभकर्णाग्रचलः कायो लम्बाम्बुभङ्गुरः । न सन्त्यजति मां यावत् तावद् एनं त्यजाम्य् अहम्
The body, wavering like the tip of a drunken elephant's ear, fragile as a droplet of water, does not abandon me; so, I abandon it.
पवनस्पन्दतरलः पेलवः कायपल्लवः । जर्जरस् तनुवृत्तश् च नेष्टो ऽयं कटुनीरसः
This body, like a tender leaf, is shaken by the wind, frail, worn out, and thin; it is not desirable, for it is harsh and tasteless.
भुक्त्वा पीत्वा चिरं कालं बालपल्लवपेलवम् । तनुताम् एत्य यत्नेन विनाशम् अनुधावति
Having eaten and drunk for a long time, this tender, leaf-like body, with effort, becomes thin and hastens toward destruction.
तान्य् एव सुखदुःखानि भावाभावमयान्य् असौ । भूयो ऽप्य् अनुभवन् कायः प्राकृतो हि न लज्जते
This body, made of existence and non-existence, repeatedly experiences the same pleasures and pains, yet, being of nature, it does not feel shame.
सुचिरं प्रभुतां कृत्वा संसेव्य विभवश्रियम् । नोच्छ्रायम् एति न स्थैर्यं कायः किम् इति पाल्यते
Even after long enjoying power and serving the splendor of wealth, the body does not attain greatness or stability—so why should it be protected?
जराकाले जराम् एति मृत्युकाले तथा मृतिम् । समम् एवाविशेषज्ञः कायो भोगिदरिद्रयोः
At the time of old age, it becomes old; at the time of death, it dies—this body, not knowing any distinction, is the same for both the enjoyer and the destitute.
संसाराम्भोधिजठरे तृष्णाकुहरकान्तरे । सुप्तस् तिष्ठति मुक्तेहो मूको ऽयं कायकच्छपः
In the belly of the ocean of worldly existence, in the cave of craving, this mute tortoise of a body lies asleep, even though liberation is near.