Accenti Sutta
Nala Vagga, Devata Samyutta
Sagatha Vagga Samyutta, Samyutta Nikaya, Suttanta Pitaka

SOURCE: "FIVE SAMYUTTAS FROM SAGATHAVAGGA SAMYUTTA"
Translated by U Tin U (Myaung), Yangon
Edited by the Editorial Committee, Burma (Myanmar) Tipitaka Association, 1998

4. Accenti Sutta

          4. The Bhagava was staying at Savatthi.. .The deva stood at a suitable place and spoke thus in verse in the presence of the Bhagava:

          "Time passes by days and nights pass by swiftly. The stages of life progressively pass by.1 He who sees these (three) dangers of death2 should perform meritorious deeds that bring happiness."

          The Bhagava said:

          "Time passes by days and nights pass by swiftly. The stages of life progressively pass by. He who sees these (three) dangers of death and wishes for the peace (of Nibbana) should forsake the worldly objects of Craving (i.e., the three states of existence).


End of the Accenti Sutta,

the fourth in this vagga.

FOOTNOTES

          1. The stages of life progressively pass by: By middle age, one's youth has passed: by old age, youth and middle age have passed. When death claims one in his old age, all the three stages have passed.

          2. The three dangers:

          (i) The passing of time (morning gives way to night. etc.);

          (ii) The quick passing of nights and days;

          (iii) The passing of the three stages of life.