4.10. Life Span (2) (SN4.10)

Opening as in preceding sutta:

Then Mara the Evil One approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:

“The days and nights do not fly by,
Life does not come to a stop.
The life span of mortals rolls along
Like the chariot’s felly round the hub.”

The Blessed One:

“The days and nights go flying by,
Life comes to a stop.
The life span of mortals is depleted
Like the water in rivulets.”

Then Mara the Evil One … disappeared right there.

© Bhikkhu Bodhi, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha (Wisdom Publications, 2000)

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