1. ko nu hāso kimānando, niccaṃ pajjalite sati.
andhakārena onaddhā, padīpaṃ na gavesatha.
When this world is ever ablaze, why this laughter, why this jubilation? Shrouded in darkness, will you not see the light?

2. passa cittakataṃ bimbaṃ, arukāyaṃ samussitaṃ.
āturaṃ bahusaṅkappaṃ, yassa natthi dhuvaṃ ṭhiti.
Behold this body - a painted image, a mass of heaped up sores, infirm, full of hankering - of which nothing is lasting or stable!

3. parijiṇṇamidaṃ rūpaṃ, roganīḷaṃ pabhaṅguraṃ.
bhijjati pūtisandeho, maraṇantañhi jīvitaṃ.
Fully worn out is this body, a nest of disease, and fragile. This foul mass breaks up, for death is the end of life.

4. yānimāni apatthāni, alābūneva sārade.
kāpotakāni aṭṭhīni, tāni disvāna kā rati.
These dove-colored bones are like gourds that lie scattered about in autumn. Having seen them, how can one seek delight?

5. aṭṭhīnaṃ nagaraṃ kataṃ, maṃsalohitalepanaṃ.
yattha jarā ca maccu ca, māno makkho ca ohito.
This city (body) is built of bones, plastered with flesh and blood; within are decay and death, pride and jealousy.

6. jīranti ve rājarathā sucittā, atho sarīrampi jaraṃ upeti.
satañca dhammo na jaraṃ upeti, santo have sabbhi pavedayanti.
Even gorgeous royal chariots wear out, and indeed this body too wears out. But the Dhamma of the Good does not age; thus the Good make it known to the good.

7. appassutāyaṃ puriso, balibaddhova jīrati.
maṃsāni tassa vaḍḍhanti, paññā tassa na vaḍḍhati.
The man of little learning grows old like a bull. He grows only in bulk, but, his wisdom does not grow.

8-9. anekajātisaṃsāraṃ, sandhāvissaṃ anibbisaṃ.
gahakāraṃ gavesanto, dukkhā jāti punappunaṃ.

gahakāraka diṭṭhosi, puna gehaṃ na kāhasi.
sabbā te phāsukā bhaggā, gahakūṭaṃ visaṅkhataṃ.
visaṅkhāragataṃ cittaṃ, taṇhānaṃ khayamajjhagā.
Through many a birth in samsara have I wandered in vain, seeking the builder of this house (of life). Repeated birth is indeed suffering!
O house-builder, you are seen! You will not build this house again. For your rafters are broken and your ridgepole shattered. My mind has reached the Unconditioned; I have attained the destruction of craving.

10. acaritvā brahmacariyaṃ, aladdhā yobbane dhanaṃ.
jiṇṇakoñcāva jhāyanti, khīṇamaccheva pallale.
Those who in youth have not led the holy life, or have failed to acquire wealth, languish like old cranes in the pond without fish.

11. acaritvā brahmacariyaṃ, aladdhā yobbane dhanaṃ.
senti cāpātikhīṇāva, purāṇāni anutthunaṃ.
Those who in youth have not lead the holy life, or have failed to acquire wealth, lie sighing over the past, like worn out arrows (shot from) a bow.