41. Soon, ah! soon on the earth Will this body lie, a thing of no worth, Neglected, void of the six Workings of sense, a mere bundle of sticks. 42. Whatever the ill that a foe Doth a foe, whatever the grudge he may owe. Greater by far will he find The ill that is done by an ill-trained mind. 43. Nay, not a father or mother Could do so much; not a kinsman or other; Greater by far will he find The good that is done by a well-trained mind. [1] _The tank_ is earthly existence. The watery home is the world of desires. [2] _Māra_--death, the personification of evil, rules the six highest desire-heaven-worlds: other great Gods are _Mahābrahma_ and _Sakka_ (Indra). _Yama_ also, death, is the lord of the under-world. We may compare the Greek Gods, Zeus, Poseidon, and Pluto, who divide the rule of the manifested universe. [3] Cp. v. 374, _suññāgāra_. CHAPTER FOUR. FLOWERS. 44. Who shall discern this earth aright And the Realm of Death and the World of Light? Who shall choose out the Way Of righteousness well displayed, As a skilled hand chooseth a flower gay? 45. The disciple[1] discerneth this earth aright And the Realm of Death and the World of Light; The disciple chooseth the Way Of Righteousness well displayed, As a skilled hand chooseth a flower gay. 46. Seeing this body as like unto foam, Illusive, by insight of wisdom alone, Scattering Death's flower-tipp'd shafts, He shall pass to a realm where Death is unknown. 47. Culling life's blossoms here and there, With his mind entangled by pleasures' delay, Death comes and carries him off, As a flood sweeps a slumbering village away. 48. Culling life's blossoms here and there, With his mind entangled by pleasures' delay, Insatiate in desire, Death makes him his bondsman and takes him away. 49. As a bee on the wing flits from flower to flower, Not harming the scent or the blossom's hue, And is gone taking only the taste, Let the sage his way through the village pursue. 50. Not with other men's faults and other men's failings, Nor the things they have done, nor the things left undone, Should the wise man be concerned; Let him look to his own things done and undone. 51. Fair is the flow'r with its hue and its colour; But if it lack odour its beauty is hollow. So fair are the words well-spoken, But how empty the words which deeds do not follow. 52. Fair is the flow'r with its hue and its colour; But if it have odour its beauty's not hollow; So fair are the words well-spoken; Well-spoken indeed are the words which deeds follow. 53. As one from a heap of gathered flowers Makes many a garland, many a crown; So by a mortal being Many a seed of good may be sown. 54. The odour of flowers cannot prevail 'Gainst the wind, nor of sandal and _tagara_[2] fair; 'Gainst the wind goes the odour of saints; The odour of saints goeth everywhere.