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IV, 20.
RECEIVING THE GETAVANA VIHÂRA.
237
'All the ancient conquering kings, who were as gods' on earth, thought by their strength to overcome decay?; but after a brief life they too disappeareds 1646
The Kalpa-fire will melt Mount Sumeru, the water of the ocean will be dried up, how much less can our human frame, which is as a bubble, expect to endure for long upon the earth! 1647
The fierce wind scatters the thick mists, the sun's rays encircle (hide) Mount Sumeru, the fierce fire licks up the place of moisture, so things are ever born once more to be destroyed! 1648
The body is a thing (vessel) of unreality, kept through the suffering of the long night“, pampered by wealth, living idly and in carelessness, 1649
'Death suddenly comes and it is carried away as rotten wood in the stream! The wise man expecting these changes with diligence strives against sloth ; 1650
*The dread of birth and death acts as a spur to keep him from lagging on the road; he frees himself from engagements, he is not occupied with selfpleasing, he is not entangled by any of the cares of life, 1651
"He holds to no business, seeks no friendships, engages in no learned career, nor yet wholly separates himself from it; for his learning is the wisdom
· Who were as isvaradeva.
* Literally, 'to conquer emptiness ;' it may mean to 'surpass the sky'-to climb to heaven.
• They were ground to dust and disappeared.
• The suffering of the 'long night' (the period of constant transmigration) keeps and guards it.
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