Because of a life of evil deeds,
a certain man now finds himself in hell.

Yama, king of those infernal regions,
Questions him severely, saying:
'In all your wicked life, did you ever encounter
any messengers from heaven?'
The man at once replies: 'No, my lord,
I never met such ones in all my life'.

Then Yama asks him, with piercing gaze,
'Did you ever meet people, old and infirm,
bent with age, and walking with a stick?'

The man replies, without hesitation:
'Oh, yes, my lord, I often saw such persons.
You can find them everywhere on earth:
No one takes any notice of them there.'

Then Yama tells the careless fool:
'The reason you are suffering
The torments and the agonies of hell
Is that you passed those people by
Without a word, without a thought,
And did not recognize.

In that old man or that old woman
A heavenly messenger was sent to warn you
Of the evil of your ways,
And that you must change them
Before you, too, grow old.'