法苑珠林 1.42

1.42

Mustard seeds a hundred yojanas wide are easily exhausted; / By the principle of things the three calamities naturally bring collapse. / Flint-spark fire has no constant flame; / Lightning flashes do not linger long. / Pinched by famine, they devour one another; / Amid weapons of war, they vie in mutual slaughter. / Pestilence brings no cure from medicine; / In vain they labour with cries of anguish and distress. / Kin and kinsfolk cannot rescue one another; / Ravaging and slaughter leave lingering enmity. / Bequeathed writings vainly fill the baskets; / To no avail do they rejoice in overflowing wealth and rank. / How lamentable is the swiftness of the river's surge! / Grieve for the entanglements of this bitter karma! / Arising and ceasing constantly press and urge; / Tormented and afflicted, they have never attained peace.