Udanavarga 4.44

4.44

「命如華菓熟，常恐會零落，
已生皆有苦，孰能致不死？
從初樂愛欲，可婬入胞影，
受形命如電，晝夜流難止。
是身為死物，精神無形法，
假令死復生，罪福不敗亡。
終始非一世，從愛癡久長，
自作受苦樂，身死神不喪。」

“What is life but the flower or the fruit which falls, when ripe, but yet which ever fears the untimely frost? Once born there is nought but sorrow; for who is there can escape death? From the first moment of conception in the womb, the result of passionate love and desire, there is nought but the bodily form, transitory as the lightning flash. It is difficult to dam up the daily flow of the waters of life. The body is but a thing destined to perish. There is no certain form given to the spirit conceived with the body. Once dead it is again born—the connections of sin and of merit cannot be overreached. It is not a matter of one life, or one death, but from the act of renewed conception proceeds all the consequences of former deeds, resulting in joy or misery; the body dies but the spirit is not entombed!”