1.17. Khó Làm (hay Con rùa)

“Dukkaraṁ duttitikkhañca,

abyattena ca sāmaññaṁ;

Bahūhi tattha sambādhā,

yattha bālo visīdatī”ti.

“Katihaṁ careyya sāmaññaṁ,

cittañce na nivāraye;

Pade pade visīdeyya,

saṅkappānaṁ vasānugoti.

Kummova aṅgāni sake kapāle,

Samodahaṁ bhikkhu manovitakke;

Anissito aññamaheṭhayāno,

Parinibbuto nūpavadeyya kañcī”ti.

SC 1 “The ascetic life is hard to practise
And hard for the inept to endure,
For many are the obstructions there
In which the fool founders.”

SC 2 “How many days can one practise the ascetic life
If one does not rein in one’s mind?
One would founder with each step
Under the control of one’s intentions.

SC 3 “Drawing in the mind’s thoughts
As a tortoise draws its limbs into its shell,
Independent, not harassing others, fully quenched,
A bhikkhu would not blame anyone.”