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III, 11.
THE REPLY TO BIMBASÂRA RÂGA.
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grasped at by the covetous at the risk of life, so is the region (matter) of covetous desire, tho they see the difficulty of getting it, 866
Yet how painfully do men scheme after wealth, difficult to acquire, easy to dissipate, as that which is got in a dream, how can the wise man hoard up (such trash)! 867
Like covering over with a false surface a hole full of fire, slipping thro' which the body is burnt, so is the fire of covetous desire. The wise man meddles not with it. 868
Like that Kaurava [Kau-lo-po) or Pih-se-ni Nanda, or Ni-k'he-lai Danta, as some kandala's (butcher's) appearance, 869
Such also is the appearance of lustful desire; the wise man will have nothing to do with it, he would rather throw his body into the water or fire, or cast himself down over a steep precipice. 870
Seeking to obtain heavenly pleasures, what is this but to remove the place of sorrow, without profit. Sün-tau, Po-sun-tau (Sundara and Vasundara), brothers of Asura, 871
'Lived together in great affection, but on account of lustful desire slew one another, and their name perished; all this then comes from lust; 872
It is this which makes a man vile, and lashes and goads him with piercing sorrow; lust debases a man, robs him of all hope, whilst through the long . night his body and soul are worn out; 873
* Like the stag that covets the power of speech
1 This line may be translated, 'as the appearance of the shambles.'
. I do not know to what this refers; the symbol 'shing' may not only mean 'the power of speech,' but also 'musical power' or 'music;' or it may mean 'celebrity.'
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| SR No. | 007676 |
| Book Title | Text of Confucianism Part 02 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | James Legge |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1882 |
| Total Pages | 2405 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 43 MB |