KN 2.37PTS: Thag 193-194
Sona Potiriyaputta
Translated from the Pāli by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
It's not for sleeping,
the night garlanded
with zodiac stars.
The night, for one who knows,
is for staying awake.
If I were to fall from my elephant's shoulder,
and a tusker trampled me,
death in battle would be better for me,
than that I, defeated,
survive.