CHAPTER XXIII.
Vicissitudes of Times.
Men of little understandings are found to fall into grave errors in this pit of the world, by their much idle talk, ever doubting scepticism, and schisms (in religion).
2. Good people can have no more confidence in the net work of their ribs, than little children may have a liking for fruits reflected in a mirror.
3. Time is a rat that cuts off the threads of all thoughts (prospects), which men may entertain here about the contemptible pleasures of this world.
4. There is nothing in this world which the all-devouring time will spare. He devours all things as the submarine fire consumes the over-flowing sea.
5. Time is the sovran lord of all, and equally terrible to all things. He is ever ready to devour all visible beings.
6. Time as master of all, spares not even the greatest of us for a moment. He swallows the universe within himself, whence he is known as the universal soul.
7. Time pervades all things, but has no perceptible feature of his own, except that he is imperfectly known by the names of years, ages and kalpas (millenniums).
8. All that was fair and good, and as great as the mount of Meru, have gone down in the womb of eternity, as the snakes are gorged by the greedy Garuda.
9. There was no one ever so unkind, hard-hearted, cruel, harsh or miserly, whom time has not devoured.