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36. 2. ]
43:
ocean; so also the life is momentry like a drop of water on the tip of blade of Kus'a grass, shaken by strong wind; the pleasures of senses resemble the horrible hoods of angry serpents; the prosperity is momentary like lightning, the ears of elephants, the side glances. of amorous women and the autumnal cloud. Of those who have not practised good penance, the result is the grim rebirth among lower beings and hell-beings. Moreover,
Who would hold patience with this worldly existence which resembles an actor's show and which burns with the fire of fear, disease, the separation from dear ones and manifold miseries ? (67)
The effort of good persons is proper in that which - can be attained by oneself alone, when there is the eternal abode and the method of its attainment spoken by great sages. (68).
Thus, o king, the worldly existence itself is thecause for my dejection; but only this has acted merely as a cause. Listen:
Here, in this country of Vijaya, there is a district called Gandhāra; where there is a city named Gandhãe rapura. Being the inhabitant of that place, I dwelt there. I had a friend named Vibhāvasu,-the son of priest Somavasu,-who was my second heart as it were. Somehow, he suffering from fever was led to death in my very presence by the god of death who has defeated gods and demons. Then I, with my mind burning with the fire of his separation, [36] stayed there; in the meantime, there arrived four friars, wandering with: constraint, for the reason of the monsoon-residence;
