1Then two brahmins who were old, aged, burdened with years, advanced in life, come to the last stage, a hundred and twenty years of age, approached the Blessed One … and said to him.

"We are brahmins, Master Gotama, old, aged … a hundred and twenty years of age. But we have not done anything good and wholesome, nor have we made a shelter for ourselves. Let Master Gotama exhort us and instruct us in a way that will lead to our welfare and happiness for a long time!"

2"Truly, brahmins, you are old, aged, burdened with years, advanced in life, come to the last stage, a hundred and twenty years of age, but you have not done anything good and wholesome, nor have you made a shelter for yourselves. Indeed, this world is burning with old age, illness, and death. But though the world is burning with old age, illness, and death, when one has departed, bodily, verbal, and mental self-control will provide a shelter, a harbor, an island, a refuge, and a support."

3When one's house is ablaze
the vessel taken out
is the one that will be useful to you,
not the one that is burnt inside.

4-5So since the world is ablaze
with old age and death,
one should take out by giving:
what is given is well taken out. [n.409] This and the preceding verse are at SN 1:41, I 31.
When one departs (this life),
self-control over body, speech, and mind,
and the deeds of merit one did while alive,
lead to one's happiness.

1Atha kho dve brāhmaṇā jiṇṇā vuddhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā vīsavassasatikā jātiyā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te brāhmaṇā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:.

"mayamassu, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā jiṇṇā vuddhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā vīsavassasatikā jātiyā; te camhā akatakalyāṇā akatakusalā akatabhīruttāṇā. Ovadatu no bhavaṁ gotamo, anusāsatu no bhavaṁ gotamo yaṁ amhākaṁ assa dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā"ti.

2"Taggha tumhe, brāhmaṇā, jiṇṇā vuddhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā vīsavassasatikā jātiyā; te cattha akatakalyāṇā akatakusalā akatabhīruttāṇā. Āditto kho ayaṁ, brāhmaṇā, loko jarāya byādhinā maraṇena. Evaṁ āditte kho, brāhmaṇā, loke jarāya byādhinā maraṇena, yo idha kāyena saṁyamo vācāya saṁyamo manasā saṁyamo, taṁ tassa petassa tāṇañca leṇañca dīpañca saraṇañca parāyaṇañcāti.

3Ādittasmiṁ agārasmiṁ,
yaṁ nīharati bhājanaṁ;
Taṁ tassa hoti atthāya,
no ca yaṁ tattha ḍayhati.

4Evaṁ āditto kho loko,
jarāya maraṇena ca;
Nīharetheva dānena,
dinnaṁ hoti sunīhataṁ.

5Yodha kāyena saṁyamo,
Vācāya uda cetasā;
Taṁ tassa petassa sukhāya hoti,
Yaṁ jīvamāno pakaroti puññan"ti.

Dutiyaṁ.