[439] The world is stricken by death (maccu) and hemmed in by aging (jarā);
the nights pass not in vain — know this, O khattiya.
Just as, when the warp is stretched upon the loom, whatever length has been woven,
but little remains to be woven: even so is the life of mortals.
Just as a river in full flood, flowing on, does not turn back,
even so the life span of human beings, moving on, does not turn back.
Just as a river in full flood sweeps away the trees grown along its banks,
even so are all living beings swept away by aging and by death (maraṇa).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.