Uttarajjhayana 128.1.40_4

128.1.40_4

marihisi rāyaṃ jayā tayā vā | maṇorame kāmaguṇe vihāya /
ekko hu dhammo naradeva tāṇaṃ | na vijjaī annam iheha kiṃci ||40||

'Whenever you die, O king, and leave all pleasant things behind, the Law alone, and nothing else in this world, will save you, O monarch. (40)
'As a bird dislikes the cage, so do I (dislike the world). I shall live as a nun, without offspring, poor, upright, without desire, without love of gain, and without hatred. (42)
'As when by a conflagration of a forest animals are burned, other beasts greatly rejoice, being under the influence of love and hate; even so we, fools that we are, being attached to pleasure, do not perceive that the world is consumed by the fire of love and hatred. (42, 43)
'Those who have enjoyed pleasures, and have renounced them, move about like the wind, and go wherever they please, like the birds unchecked in their flight. (44)
'When they are caught, and held by my hand, sir, they struggle; we shall be like them, if we are attached to pleasures. (45)
'As an unbaited (bird) sees a baited one caught in the snare, even so shall we avoid every bait and walk about, not baited by anything. (46)
'Being aware that pleasures are causes for the continuance of worldly existence, as illustrated in (the above) similes of the greedy man, one should be cautious and stir as little as possible, like a snake in the presence of Suparna. (47)
'Like an elephant who has broken his fetters, go to your proper destination. O great king Ishukâri; this is the wholesome truth I have learned. (48)