518When an astute person knows, “Old age and death are suffering;
yet an ignorant ordinary person is bound to them”,
completely understanding suffering, being mindful, practicing absorption:
there is no greater pleasure than this.

518 p_19Th1_817"Yadā dukkhaṁ jarāmaraṇanti paṇḍito,
Aviddasū yattha sitā puthujjanā;
Dukkhaṁ pariññāya satova jhāyati,
Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

519When clinging, the carrier of suffering,
and craving, the carrier of this painful mass of proliferation,
are destroyed, and one is mindful, practicing absorption:
there is no greater pleasure than this.

520When the eightfold way, so full of grace,
the supreme path, cleanser of all corruptions,
is seen with wisdom; and one is mindful, practicing absorption:
there is no greater pleasure than this.

521When one develops that peaceful state,
sorrowless, stainless, unconditioned,
cleanser of all corruptions, cutter of fetters and bonds:
there is no greater pleasure than this.

519p_19Th1_818Yadā dukkhassāvahaniṁ visattikaṁ,
Papañcasaṅghātadukhādhivāhiniṁ;
Taṇhaṁ pahantvāna satova jhāyati,
Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

520p_19Th1_819Yadā sivaṁ dvecaturaṅgagāminaṁ,
Magguttamaṁ sabbakilesasodhanaṁ;
Paññāya passitva satova jhāyati,
Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

521p_19Th1_820Yadā asokaṁ virajaṁ asaṅkhataṁ,
Santaṁ padaṁ sabbakilesasodhanaṁ;
Bhāveti saṁyojanabandhanacchidaṁ,
Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

522When the thunder-cloud rumbles in the sky,
while the rain pours on the path of birds all around,
and a monk has gone to a mountain cave, practicing absorption:
there is no greater pleasure than this.

522p_19Th1_821Yadā nabhe gajjati meghadundubhi,
Dhārākulā vihagapathe samantato;
Bhikkhū ca pabbhāragatova jhāyati
Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

523When sitting on a riverbank covered in flowers,
garlanded with brightly colored forest plants,
one is truly happy, practicing absorption:
there is no greater pleasure than this.

524When it is midnight in a lonely forest,
and the lions roar as the heavens pour,
and a monk has gone to a mountain cave, practicing absorption:
there is no greater pleasure than this.

525When one’s own thoughts have been cut off,
between the mountains, sheltered inside a cleft,
without stress or heartlessness, practicing absorption:
there is no greater pleasure than this.

526When one is happy, destroyer of stains, heartlessness, and sorrow,
free of obstructions, entanglements, and thorns,
and with all defilements annihilated, practicing absorption:
there is no greater pleasure than this.

523p_19Th1_822Yadā nadīnaṁ kusumākulānaṁ,
Vicitta-vāneyya-vaṭaṁsakānaṁ;
Tīre nisinno sumanova jhāyati,
Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

524p_19Th1_823Yadā nisīthe rahitamhi kānane,
Deve gaḷantamhi nadanti dāṭhino;
Bhikkhū ca pabbhāragatova jhāyati,
Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

525p_19Th1_824Yadā vitakke uparundhiyattano,
Nagantare nagavivaraṁ samassito;
Vītaddaro vītakhilova jhāyati,
Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindati.

526 p_19Th1_825Yadā sukhī malakhilasokanāsano,
Niraggaḷo nibbanatho visallo;
Sabbāsave byantikatova jhāyati,
Tato ratiṁ paramataraṁ na vindatī"ti.