1.3.10 Instability
331 Lowest and meanest lore, that bids men trust secure, In things that pass away, as things that shall endure! That ignorance which considers those things to be stable which are not so, is dishonourable (to the wise).
332 As crowds round dancers fill the hall, is wealth’s increase; Its loss, as throngs dispersing, when the dances cease. The acquisition of wealth is like the gathering together of an assembly for a theatre; its expenditure is like the breaking up of that assembly.
333 Unenduring is all wealth; if you wealth enjoy, Enduring works in working wealth straightway employ. Wealth is perishable; let those who obtain it immediately practise those (virtues) which are imperishable.
334 As ‘day’ it vaunts itself; well understood, ’tis knife’, That daily cuts away a portion from thy life. Time, which shows itself (to the ignorant) as if it were something (real) is in the estimation of the wise (only) a saw which cuts down life.
335 Before the tongue lie powerless, ‘mid the gasp of gurgling breath, Arouse thyself, and do good deeds beyond the power of death. Let virtuous deeds be done quickly, before the biccup comes making the tongue silent.
336 Existing yesterday, today to nothing hurled!- Such greatness owns this transitory world. This world possesses the greatness that one who yesterday was is not today.
337 Who know not if their happy lives shall last the day, In fancies infinite beguile the hours away! Innumerable are the thoughts which occupy the mind of (the unwise), who know not that they shall live another moment.
338 Birds fly away, and leave the nest deserted bare; Such is the short-lived friendship soul and body share. The love of the soul to the body is like (the love of) a bird to its egg which it flies away from and leaves empty.
339 Death is sinking into slumbers deep; Birth again is waking out of sleep. Death is like sleep; birth is like awaking from it.
340 The soul in fragile shed as lodger courts repose:- Is it because no home’s conclusive rest it knows? It seems as if the soul, which takes a temporary shelter in a body, had not attained a home.
1.3.11 Renunciation
341 From whatever, aye, whatever, man gets free, From what, aye, from that, no more of pain hath he! Whatever thing, a man has renounced, by that thing; he cannot suffer pain.
342 ‘Renunciation’ made- ev’n here true pleasures men acquire; ‘Renounce’ while time is yet, if to those pleasures you aspire. After a man has renounced (all things), there will still be many things in this world (which he may enjoy); if he should desire them, let him, while it is time abandon. (the world).
343 ‘Perceptions of the five’ must all expire;- Relinquished in its order each desire Let the five senses be destroyed; and at the same time, let everything be abandoned that (the ascetic) has (formerly) desired.
344 ‘Privation absolute’ is penance true; ‘Possession’ brings bewilderment anew. To be altogether destitute is the proper condition of those who perform austerities; if they possess anything, it will change (their resolution) and bring them back to their confused state.
345 To those who sev’rance seek from being’s varied strife, Flesh is burthen sore; what then other bonds of life? What means the addition of other things those who are attempting to cut off (future) births, when even their body is too much (for them).
346 Who kills conceit that utters ‘I’ and ‘mine’, 43 Shall enter realms above the powers divine. He who destroys the pride which says “I”, “mine” will enter a world which is difficult even to the Gods to attain.
347 Who cling to things that cling and eager clasp, Griefs cling to them with unrelaxing grasp. Sorrows will never let go their hold of those who give not up their hold of desire.
348 Who thoroughly ‘renounce’ on highest height are set; The rest bewildered, lie entangled in the net. Those who have entirely renounced (all things and all desire) have obtained (absorption into God); all others wander in confusion, entangled in the net of (many) births.
349 When that which clings falls off, severed is being’s tie; All else will then be seen as instability. At the moment in which desire has been abandoned, (other) births will be cut off; when that has not been done, instability will be seen.
350 Cling thou to that which He, to Whom nought clings, hath bid thee cling, Cling to that bond, to get thee free from every clinging thing. Desire the desire of Him who is without desire; in order to renounce desire, desire that desire.
1.3.12 Knowledge of the True
351 Of things devoid of truth as real things men deem;- Cause of degraded birth the fond delusive dream! Inglorious births are produced by the confusion (of mind) which considers those things to be real which are not real.
352 Darkness departs, and rapture springs to men who see, The mystic vision pure, from all delusion free. A clear, undimmed vision of things will deliver its possessors from the darkness of future births, and confer the felicity (of heaven).
353 When doubts disperse, and mists of error roll Away, nearer is heav’n than earth to sage’s soul. Heaven is nearer than earth to those men of purified minds who are freed from from doubt.
354 Five-fold perception gained, what benefits accrue To them whose spirits lack perception of the true? Even those who have all the knowledge which can be attained by the five senses, will derive no benefit from it, if they are without a knowledge of the true nature of things. 44
355 Whatever thing, of whatsoever kind it be, ‘Tis wisdom’s part in each the very thing to see. (True) knowledge is the perception concerning every thing of whatever kind, that that thing is the true thing.
356 Who learn, and here the knowledge of the true obtain, Shall find the path that hither cometh not again. They, who in this birth have learned to know the True Being, enter the road which returns not into this world.
357 The mind that knows with certitude what is, and ponders well, Its thoughts on birth again to other life need not to dwell. Let it not be thought that there is another birth for him whose mind having thoroughly considered (all it has been taught) has known the True Being.
358 When folly, cause of births, departs; and soul can view The truth of things, man’s dignity- ’tis wisdom true. True knowledge consists in the removal of ignorance; which is (the cause of) births, and the perception of the True Being who is (the bestower of) heaven.
359 The true ‘support’ who knows- rejects ‘supports’ he sought beforeSorrow that clings all destroys, shall cling to him no more. He who so lives as to know Him who is the support of all things and abandon all desire, will be freed from the evils which would otherwise cleave to him and destroy (his efforts after absorption).
360 When lust and wrath and error’s triple tyranny is o’er, Their very names for aye extinct, then pain shall be no more. If the very names of these three things, desire, anger, and confusion of mind, be destroyed, then will also perish evils (which flow from them).