Obscure Religious Cults as Background of Bengali Literature c8.22

c8.22

Death is exactly the same as birth,—there is no distinction between being and dying. Let them, who are here afraid of birth and death, care for (the practice and ceremonies of) *rasa* and *rasāyana*.¹ Those who generally roam about (in the temples of) gods and goddesses become neither free from decrepitude, nor do they become immortal. It is not known whether there is *karma* due to birth, or there is birth due to *karma*; Saraha, however, says,—"unthinkable is that abode."² Due to the beginningless root-instincts (*vāsanā*) man falsely constructs the notions of existence and extinction and thus himself puts the fetters of bondage on his legs. When the *citta* becomes tranquillised there is no birth—no death,—no bondage—no liberation,—so all the differences between all theses and anti-theses vanish at once.