DAY 291

We Did Not Enjoy Pleasures — Pleasures Consumed Us

Subhashita (Traditional Sanskrit Maxims)

기원후 5세기경(바르트리하리 바이라기야샤타카)

ORIGINAL

भोगा न भुक्ता वयमेव भुक्ताः तपो न तप्तं वयमेव तप्ताः । कालो न यातो वयमेव याता स्तृष्णा न जीर्णा वयमेव जीर्णाः ॥ (bhogā na bhuktā vayam eva bhuktāḥ tapo na taptaṃ vayam eva taptāḥ, kālo na yāto vayam eva yātā stṛṣṇā na jīrṇā vayam eva jīrṇāḥ)

📜 THE VERSE

We did not enjoy pleasures — we ourselves were consumed by them. We did not practice austerity — we ourselves grew weary. Time did not pass — we ourselves passed by. Craving has not aged — only we have aged.

💡 TL;DR

The power of this verse lies in reversing the subject.

❓ TODAY'S QUESTION

Am I enjoying pleasure, or being consumed while chasing it?

📝Reflection

The power of this verse lies in reversing the subject. We always say 'I enjoyed pleasure,' but it may in fact be pleasure that has used us up. Craving does not age and remains as vivid as ever, while only the body and years that chased it have worn thin — this cool observation forces us to ask again what we are living to pursue.

— ONGO · Curator

🌱Apply It Today

Today, look back at a moment you thought you were 'enjoying,' and ask whether it was actually consuming you instead.

📖 Source: Subhashita (Traditional Sanskrit Maxims). Sanskrit original with public-domain translations consulted; rendered independently by ONGO.
This verse is read as universal humanistic wisdom, not religion — no faith is promoted, and the reflection is 100% original ONGO content.