SN 1.3 · Upanīyasutta
At Sāvatthī.
Standing to one side, that deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:
“This life, so very short, is led onward. One led on to old age has no shelter. Seeing this peril in death, do good deeds that bring you joy.”
“This life, so very short, is led onward. One led on to old age has no shelter. Seeing this peril in death, a seeker of peace would drop the world’s bait.”
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0
This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.
Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.
The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.