A person's entire life as devotion

3.16.1 Verily, a person's life is a trust and a devotion to God. His first twenty-four years are the morning of life, for the Gayatri measure has twenty-four syllables, and the morning prayer is offered with a Gayatri hymn. The vital breaths sustain this part of life, for they cause everything here to continue.

3.16.2 If any sickness should overtake him in this period of life, let him say: "O God, let this morning of my life continue on to the midday. Let not me, who am Your servant, be cut off in the midst of my life." He arises from it; he becomes free from sickness.

3.16.3 Now the next forty-four years are the midday of life, for the Trishtubh measure has forty-four syllables and the midday prayer is offered with a Trishtubh hymn. The vital breaths sustain this part of life; and on departing, they cause everything here to lament.

3.16.4 If any sickness should overtake him in this period of life, let him say: "O God, let this midday of my life continue on to its third part. Let not me, who am Your servant, be cut off in the midst of my life." He arises from it; he becomes free from sickness.

3.16.5 Now the next forty-eight years are the third part of life, for the Jagati measure has forty-eight syllables and the third prayer is offered with a Jagati hymn. The vital breaths sustain this part of life; and on departing, they take everything to themselves.

3.16.6 If any sickness should overtake him in this period of life, let him say: "O God, let this third part of my life continue to a full length of life. Let not me, who am Your servant, be cut off in the midst of my life." He arises from it; he becomes free from sickness.

3.16.7 Verily, it was this that Mahidasa Aitareya knew when he used to say: "Here, why do you afflict me with this sickness, me, who am not going to die with it?" He lived a hundred and sixteen years. He lives to a hundred and sixteen years who knows this.