Jarāmaraṇa


is Sanskrit and Pāli for "old age" and "death". In Buddhism, jaramarana is associated with the inevitable decay and death-related suffering of all beings prior to their rebirth within saṃsāra.
Jarā and maraṇa are identified as the twelfth link within the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination.

Etymology

The word jarā is related to the older Vedic Sanskrit word jarā, jaras, jarati, gerā, which means "to become brittle, to decay, to be consumed". The Vedic root is related to the Latin granum, Goth. kaurn, Greek geras, geros all of which in one context mean "hardening, old age".
The word maraṇa is based on the Vedic Sanskrit root mṛ, mriyate which means death. The Vedic root is related to later Sanskrit marta, as well as to German mord, Lith. mirti, Latin morior and mors, and Greek μόρος, all of which mean "to die, death".

Within the Four Noble Truths

Within the teachings on the Four Noble Truths, jarā and maraṇa are identified as aspects of dukkha. For example, The Discourse That Sets Turning the Wheel of Truth states:
Elsewhere in the canon the Buddha further elaborates on Jarāmaraṇa :

Within the twelve links of dependent origination

Jarāmaraa is the last of the Twelve Nidānas, directly conditioned by birth, meaning that all who are born are destined to age and die.

Texts

In the Buddhist Pali Canon's "Subjects for Contemplation Discourse", the Buddha enjoins followers to reflect often on the following:
In the Pali Canon, aging and death affect all beings, including gods, humans, animals and those born in a hell realm. Only beings who achieve enlightenment in this lifetime escape rebirth in this cycle of birth-and-death.
As what the Buddha instructed King Pasenadi of Kosala about aging and death in the Pabbatopama Sutta :
The Dhammapada has one chapter known as "Jaravagga", that consisted of eleven verses about old age,.