1.1Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho nando devaputto bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Standing to one side, the godling Nanda spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:¹

2.1“Accenti kālā tarayanti rattiyo,“Time flies, nights pass by,2.2Vayoguṇā anupubbaṁ jahanti;the stages of life leave us one by one.2.3Etaṁ bhayaṁ maraṇe pekkhamāno,Seeing this peril in death,2.4Puññāni kayirātha sukhāvahānī”ti.do good deeds that bring you joy.”

3.1“Accenti kālā tarayanti rattiyo,“Time flies, nights pass by,3.2Vayoguṇā anupubbaṁ jahanti;the stages of life leave us one by one.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.”