Upanīyasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.3

Linked Discourses 1.3

1. Naḷavagga

1. A Reed

Upanīyasutta

Led On

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:

Standing to one side, that deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

“Upanīyati jīvitamappamāyu,

“This life, so very short, is led onward.

Jarūpanītassa na santi tāṇā;

One led on to old age has no shelter.

Etaṁ bhayaṁ maraṇe pekkhamāno,

Seeing this peril in death,

Puññāni kayirātha sukhāvahānī”ti.

do good deeds that bring you joy.”

“Upanīyati jīvitamappamāyu,

“This life, so very short, is led onward.

Jarūpanītassa na santi tāṇā;

One led on to old age has no shelter.

Etaṁ bhayaṁ maraṇe pekkhamāno,

Seeing this peril in death,

Lokāmisaṁ pajahe santipekkho”ti.

a seeker of peace would drop the world’s bait.”