"Seeing the fruit of evil deeds, O king,
Seeing what profit deeds of goodness bring,
I fain would exercise stern self-control,
Sons, wealth, and cattle cannot charm my soul.

"Ten decades has this mortal life, which each to each succeed:
This limit reached, man withers fast like to a broken reed.

"Then what is pleasure, what is love, wealth-hunting what to me?
What sons and daughters? know, O king, from fetters I am free.

"For this is true, I know it well--death will not pass me by:
And what is love, or what is wealth, when you must come to die?

[397] "The lowest race that go upon two feet
Are the Candalas, meanest men on earth,
When all our deeds were ripe, as guerdon meet
We both as young Candalas had our birth.

"Candalas in Avanti land, deer by Neranjara,
Ospreys by the Nerbudda, now brahmin and Khattiya."

[398] Having thus made clear his mean births in time past, here also in this birth he declared the impermanency of things created, and recited four stanzas to arouse an effort:

"Life is but short, and death the end must be:
The aged have no hiding where to flee.
Then, O Pancala, what I bid thee, do:
All deeds which grow to misery, eschew.

"Life is but short, and death the end must be:
The aged have no hiding where to flee.
Then, O Pancala, what I bid thee, do:
All deeds whose fruit is misery, eschew.

"Life is but short, and death the end must be:
The aged have no hiding where to flee.
Then, O Pancala, what I bid thee, do:
All deeds that are with passion stained, eschew.

"Life is but short, and death the end must be:
Old age will sap our strength, we cannot flee.
Then, O Pancala, what I bid thee, do:
All deeds that lead to lowest hell, eschew."

[399] The king rejoiced as the Great Being spoke and repeated three stanzas:

"True is that word, O Brother! which you say,
You like a holy saint your words dictate:
But my desires are hard to cast away,
By such as I am; they are very great.

"As elephants deep sunken in the mire
Cannot climb out, although they see the land:
So, sunken in the slough of strong desire
Upon the Brethren's Path I cannot stand.

"As father or as mother would their son
Admonish, good and happy how to grow:
Admonish me how happiness is won,
And tell me by which way I ought to go."

Then the Great Being said to him:

"O lord of men! thou canst not cast away
These passions which are common to mankind:
Let not thy people unjust taxes pay,
Equal and righteous ruling let them find.