Then two old brahmins—elderly and senior, who were advanced in years and had reached the final stage of life, a hundred and twenty years old—went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha:
“We brahmins, worthy Gotama, are old, elderly and senior, we’re advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life; we’re a hundred and twenty years old.
And we haven’t done what is good and skillful, nor have we made a shelter from fear.
Advise us, worthy Gotama, instruct us! It will be for our lasting welfare and happiness.”
“Indeed, brahmins, you’re old, elderly and senior.
And you haven’t done what is good and skillful, nor have you made a shelter from fear.
This world is led onward by old age, sickness, and death.
But restraint here by way of body, speech, and mind is the shelter, protection, island, refuge, and haven for the departed.
This life, so very short, is led onward.
One led on to old age has no shelter.
Seeing this peril in death,
do good deeds that bring you joy.
The restraint practiced here—
of body, speech, and mind—
leads the departed to happiness,
as the good deeds done while living.”