1At Sāvatthī. Standing to one side, that devata recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi: 

2v.5 "Time flies by, the nights swiftly pass;
The stages of life successively desert us.[n.11] Vayoguṇa anupubbaṁ jahanti. Spk: Youth deserts one who reaches middle age; both youth and middle age desert one who reaches old age; and at the time of death, all three stages desert us.
Seeing clearly this danger in death,
One should do deeds of merit that bring happiness."

2"Accenti kālā tarayanti rattiyo,
Vayoguṇā anupubbaṁ jahanti;
Etaṁ bhayaṁ maraṇe pekkhamāno,
Puññāni kayirātha sukhāvahānī"ti.

The Blessed One:

3v.6 "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."

3"Accenti kālā tarayanti rattiyo,
Vayoguṇā anupubbaṁ jahanti;
Etaṁ bhayaṁ maraṇe pekkhamāno,
Lokāmisaṁ pajahe santipekkho"ti.