The Questions of Piṅgiya · Snp 5.17

“I am old, feeble, and pallid,”
said Venerable Piṅgiya,
“my eyes unclear, my hearing faint—
don’t let me perish while still confused.
Explain the teaching so that I may understand
the giving up of rebirth and old age here.”

“Seeing them being harmed <j>on account of forms,”
replied the Buddha,
“those negligent folk are inflicted <j>on account of forms—
therefore, Piṅgiya, being diligent,
give up form so as not to be reborn.”

“The four quarters, the intermediate directions,
below, and above: in these ten directions
there’s nothing at all in the world
that you’ve not seen, heard, thought, or cognized.
Explain the teaching so that I may understand
the giving up of rebirth and old age here.”

“Observing mankind sunk in craving,”
replied the Buddha,
“tormented, mired in old age;
therefore, Piṅgiya, being diligent,
give up craving so as not to be reborn.”