Vasishtha continued:—There is nothing in this world except the gratification of the carnal appetites, and the pleasure of eating, drinking and concupiscence with the vulgar; but it is the lasting good of men, which is desired by the good and great.
2. The crooked and creeping beings and things, and beasts and wicked men and ignorant people only are gratified with carnal pleasures; they are all fond of everything conducing to their bodily enjoyments.
3. They are human asses, who dote on the beauty of female bodies, which are no better than lumps of flesh, blood and bones.
4. This may be desirable to dogs and devouring animals, but not to man (who is a rational and spiritual being). All animals have their fleshy bodies, as the trees have their trunks of wood, and the minerals their forms of earth.
5. There is the earth below and the sky above, and nothing that is extraordinary before us; the senses pursue the sensible objects, but human reason finds no relish in them.
6. The consciousness (or intuition) of men, leads them only to error; and true happiness, which is desired by all is situated beyond all sensible objects and gratifications.
7. The end of worldly pleasure is sorrow and misery, as the product of a flame is soot and blackness; and the functions of the mind and senses, are all fleeting having their rise and fall by turns. All enjoyments are short lived, owing to the fugacity of the objects, and the decay of the powers of our enjoying.
8. Prosperity fades away as plant encircled by a poisonous viper; and our consorts die away as soon as anything born of blood and flesh. (Fortune is fleeting and life a passing dream).
9. The delusion of love and lust, makes one body to embrace another, both of which are composed of impure flesh and blood. Such are the acts, O Ráma! that delight the ignorant.
10. Wise men take no delight in this unreal and unstable world, which is more poisonous than poison itself, by infecting them that have not even tasted the bitter gall.