Before long, alas! this body will lie on the earth, despised, without understanding, like a useless log.
Whatever a hater may do to a hater, or an enemy to an enemy, a wrongly-directed mind will do him greater mischief.
Not a mother, not a father, will do so much, nor any other relatives; a well-directed mind will do us greater service.
[CHAPTER IV]
FLOWERS
Who shall overcome this earth, and the world of Yama, the lord of the departed, and the world of the gods? Who shall find out the plainly shown path of virtue, as a clever man finds the right flower?
The disciple will overcome the earth, and the world of Yama, and the world of the gods. The disciple will find out the plainly shown path of virtue, as a clever man finds the right flower.
He who knows that this body is like froth, and has learnt that it is as unsubstantial as a mirage, will break the flower-pointed arrow of Mâra, and never see the king of death.
Death carries off a man who is gathering flowers, and whose mind is distracted, as a flood carries off a sleeping village.