This event took place in Shravasti. The Blessed One spoke to King Pasenadi of Kosala, who was sitting to one side: "Great King, where have you come from now?"

"Venerable sir, I have been busy with the affairs of those anointed warrior-kings who are intoxicated with the pride of their power, obsessed with greed for sensual pleasures, who have achieved stable control over their country, and who rule over a great extent of land."

"What do you think, great king? Suppose a trustworthy man came from the east and said to you: 'Your Majesty, please know that I come from the east. There I saw a huge mountain, as high as the clouds, coming this way, crushing all living beings. Your Majesty, do whatever you think should be done.' Then a second man came from the west... a third from the north... and a fourth trustworthy man came from the south and said to you: 'Your Majesty, please know that I come from the south. There I saw a huge mountain, as high as the clouds, coming this way, crushing all living beings. Your Majesty, do whatever you think should be done.' Great king, if such a great peril should arise, such a terrible destruction of human life, the human state being so difficult to obtain, what should be done?"

"Venerable sir, if such a great peril should arise, such a terrible destruction of human life, the human state being so difficult to obtain, what else should be done but to live by the Dhamma, to live righteously, and to do wholesome and meritorious deeds?"

"I inform you, great king, I declare to you: aging and death are rolling in on you. When aging and death are rolling in on you, great king, what should be done?"

"As aging and death are rolling in on me, venerable sir, what else should be done but to live by the Dhamma, to live righteously, and to do wholesome and meritorious deeds? Venerable sir, there are elephant battles [fought by] those anointed warrior-kings who are intoxicated with the pride of their power, obsessed with greed for sensual pleasures, who have achieved stable control over their country, and who rule over a great extent of land; but there is no use for those elephant battles, no scope for them, when aging and death are rolling in. There are cavalry battles... chariot battles... infantry battles... but there is no use for those infantry battles, no scope for them, when aging and death are rolling in. In this royal court there are counselors who, when the enemies arrive, are capable of dividing them by subterfuge; but there is no use for those battles of subterfuge, no scope for them, when aging and death are rolling in. In this royal court there is abundant bullion and gold stored in vaults and depositories, and with such wealth we are capable of mollifying the enemies when they come; but there is no use for those battles of wealth, no scope for them, when aging and death are rolling in. As aging and death are rolling in on me, venerable sir, what else should be done but to live by the Dhamma, to live righteously, and to do wholesome and meritorious deeds?"

"So it is, great king! So it is, great king! As aging and death are rolling in on you, what else should be done but to live by the Dhamma, to live righteously, and to do wholesome and meritorious deeds?"

So said the Blessed One. Having said this, the Teacher, the Sublime One, further said this:

"Just as mountains of solid rock,

Massive, reaching to the sky,

Might draw together from all sides,

Crushing all in the four quarters—

So aging and death come

Rolling over living beings—

Warriors, priests, merchants,

Workers, outcastes, and scavengers.

They spare nothing. They trample everything.

Here elephant troops can hold no ground,

Nor can chariots or infantry,

Nor can a battle of words

Or wealth win out.

So a wise person,

Seeing his own good,

Steadfast, secures confidence

In the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha.

One who practices the Dhamma

In thought, word, and deed,

Receives praise here on earth

And after death rejoices in heaven."

This passage profoundly expounds on the impermanence of life and the importance of spiritual practice, carrying deep philosophical significance:

1. The illusory nature of power:

The text begins by describing the king's preoccupation with royal affairs, immersed in power and desire. This suggests the illusory nature of worldly power and how people are often deluded by it.

2. The fragility of life:

The Buddha uses the simile of four massive mountains to illustrate the inevitability of death, emphasizing the fragility of life. This vivid metaphor prompts deep reflection on the brevity of life and the certainty of death.

3. The powerlessness of worldly forces:

The king lists various worldly powers (military, strategy, wealth) but acknowledges their ineffectiveness in the face of death. This reveals the limitations of worldly power and human helplessness in matters of life and death.

4. The importance of spiritual practice:

Faced with inevitable death, both the king and the Buddha emphasize the importance of living by the Dhamma and doing good deeds. This indicates that spiritual cultivation is the truly meaningful pursuit when confronting life's ultimate questions.

5. Equality:

The verse mentions that death treats all social classes equally, revealing the inherent equality of life and breaking down social class boundaries.

6. The urgency of present action:

The entire dialogue emphasizes the urgency of spiritual practice, suggesting that we should not wait but begin practicing immediately.

7. The combination of faith and practice:

The final verse emphasizes the combination of faith (in the Triple Gem) and practice (in thought, word, and deed), indicating that true spiritual cultivation requires unity of belief and action.

This passage inspires us to contemplate the essence of life and reminds us how to conduct ourselves in the face of impermanence. It encourages us to transcend worldly pursuits and focus on truly important spiritual cultivation. In this materialistic age, this ancient wisdom provides us with profound inspiration, guiding us to re-examine the value and meaning of life. It is not just a religious teaching but a universal life philosophy worthy of deep reflection and practice by everyone.