1.1Rājagahanidānaṁ.At Rājagaha.1.2Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho uttaro devaputto bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Standing to one side, the godling Uttara spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:¹

2.1“Upanīyati jīvitamappamāyu,“This life, so very short, is led onward.2.2Jarūpanītassa na santi tāṇā;One led on to old age has no shelter.2.3Etaṁ bhayaṁ maraṇe pekkhamāno,Seeing this peril in death,2.4Puññāni kayirātha sukhāvahānī”ti.do good deeds that bring you joy.”

3.1“Upanīyati jīvitamappamāyu,“This life, so very short, is led onward.3.2Jarūpanītassa na santi tāṇā;One led on to old age has no shelter.3.3Etaṁ bhayaṁ maraṇe pekkhamāno,Seeing this peril in death,3.4Lokāmisaṁ pajahe santipekkho”ti.a seeker of peace would drop the world’s bait.”