At Rājagaha. While standing to one side, the young deity Uttara recited this verse in the presence of the Blessed One:
“Life ebbs away, its span is short,
for one brought to old age, there are no shelters;
Clearly seeing this danger in death,
one should do meritorious deeds that bring happiness.”
[The Blessed One]: “Life ebbs away, its span is short,
for one brought to old age, there are no shelters;
Clearly seeing this danger in death,
one should drop |the world’s bait::worldliness, material pleasure, worldly pleasure [lokāmisa]|, looking for peace.