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174
Mahāvīra and Buddha
The time may come when he, as lord of men, Comes to his heritage, and in his wrath May with a despot's weapons seek revenge With heavy hand. Hence from such attitude Let everyone who guards his life refrain. "Or if a man do walk within the woods And see a snake glide by, let him not say Disdainful : 'Tis a young one,' and despise. In divers shapes and with an ardent force Fareth the snake. Should he attacking strike, He bites the heedless, be it man or maid, No matter when. Hence from such attitude Let everyone who guards his life refrain. "A fire ablaze with appetite immense And swarthy trail let none despise as young Since it was lit, nor hold of no account. If it but win to fuel, growing great, It may attack the heedless, man or maid, And burn no matter when. From this therefore Let everyone who guards his life refrain. “The forest burnt by fire, the swarthy trailed, After the lapse of many nights and days, In shoots and seedlings springs once more to life. But he whom almsman, strong in righteousness, Burneth with ardent flame, may look in vain For child, or offspring ‘among his stock. No wealth His heire may find ; childless and without heirs, Like to a palm-tree stump such men become.
Hence with these four-the serpent and the fire, The prince of high estate, the saintly friarLet the wise man, his own goodwill in sight, Conduct himself as seemly is and right.
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