his
world, it is very common that persons in affluent circumstances have no
appetite, while they that are indigent can digest chips of wood. Impelled
by destiny, whatever sins the man of wicked soul, discontented with his
condition, commits, saying, "I am the doer," he regards to be all for his
good. Hunting, dice, women, wine, brawls, these are censured by the wise.
Many persons, however, possessed of even extensive knowledge of the
scriptures are seen to be addicted to them. Objects, whether coveted or
otherwise, come upon creatures in consequence of Time's course. No other
cause can be traced. Air, space, fire, moon, sun, day, night, the
luminous bodies (in the firmament), rivers, and mountains,--who makes
them and who supports them? Cold, and heat, and rain, come one after
another in consequence of Time's course. It is even so, O bull among men,
with the happiness and the misery of mankind. Neither medicines, nor
incantations, can rescue the man assailed by decrepitude or overtaken by
death. As two logs of wood floating on the great ocean, come together and
are again (when the time comes) separated, even so creatures come
together and are again (when the time comes) separated. Time acts equally
towards those men that (are in affluent circumstances and that) enjoy the
pleasures of song and dance in the company of women and those helpless
men that live upon the food that others supply. In this world a thousand
kinds of relationship are contracted, such as mother and father and son
and wife. In reality, however, whose are they and whose are we? No one
can become anyone's own, nor can anyone become anybody else's own. Our
union here with wives and kinsfolk and well-wishers is like that of
travellers at a road-side inn. Where am I? Where shall go? Who am I? How
come I here? What for and whom I grieve? Reflecting on these questions
one obtains tranquillity. Life and its environments are constantly
revolving like a wheel, and the companionship of those that are dear is
transitory. The union with brother, mother, father, and friend is like
that of travellers in an inn. Men of knowledge behold, as if with
corporeal eyes, the next world that is unseen. Without disregarding the
scriptures, one desirous of knowledge should have faith. One possessed of
knowledge should perform the rites laid down in respect of the Pitris and
the gods, practise all religious duties, perform sacrifices, judiciously
pursue virtue, profit, and pleasur