sn.1.4 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Time Flies By

At Savatthi. Standing to one side, that devatā recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:

“Time flies by, the nights swiftly pass;
The stages of life successively desert us.
Seeing clearly this danger in death,
One should do deeds of merit that bring happiness.”

The Blessed One:

“Time flies by, the nights swiftly pass;
The stages of life successively desert us.
Seeing clearly this danger in death,
A seeker of peace should drop the world’s bait.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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Time Flies

At Sāvatthī.
Standing to one side, that deity recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence:
“Time flies, nights pass by,
the stages of life leave us one by one.
Seeing this peril in death,
do good deeds that bring you to joy.”
“Time flies, nights pass by,
the stages of life leave us one by one.
Seeing this peril in death,
a seeker of peace would drop the world’s bait.”