8.
The Discourse on the Dart
580.
Difficult and small, and that is bound with suffering.
581.
Even having reached old age, death - for such is the nature of living beings.
582.
So for mortals who are born, there is always fear from death.
583.
All have breaking as their end, so is the life of mortals.
584.
All come under the power of death, all have death as their destination.
585.
A father does not protect his son, or else relatives their kin.
586.
One by one of mortals, like an ox to be slaughtered, is led away.
587.
Therefore the wise do not grieve, having understood the way of the world.
588.
Not seeing both ends, you lament in vain.
589.
The discerning one would do it, though deluded, harming oneself.
590.
More suffering arises, and the body is harmed.
591.
The ghosts are not protected by that, lamentation is useless.
592.
Lamenting the deceased, he has come under the control of sorrow.
593.
Having come under the power of Death, living beings here are trembling.
594.
Such is separation, see the way of the world.
595.
He is separated from the congregation of kinsmen, he gives up life here.
596.
Having seen the ghost who had died, "He cannot be obtained by me," thus.
597.
So too the wise one, the one with wisdom, the learned, the wholesome man;
Should dispel quickly arisen sorrow, as the wind disperses cotton.
598.
Seeking happiness for oneself, one should draw out the dart from oneself.
599.
Having overcome all sorrow, sorrowless, he is quenched.
The Discourse on the Dart is concluded as eighth.