35. Again as the white wash of old age whitens the outer body, so debility, diseases and dangers become its inmates in the inner apartment. 36. It is the extinction of being that is preceded by old age; therefore I as a man of little understanding, can have no reliance in old age (though extolled by some)[1] 37. What then is the good of this miserable life, which lives under the subjection of old age? Senility is irresistable in this world, and defies all efforts to avoid or overcome it. CHAPTER XXIII. VICISSITUDES OF TIMES. Men of little understandings are found to fall into grave errors in this pit of the world, by their much idle talk, ever doubting scepticism, and schisms (in religion). 2. Good people can have no more confidence in the net work of their ribs, than little children may have a liking for fruits reflected in a mirror. 3. Time is a rat that cuts off the threads of all thoughts (prospects), which men may entertain here about the contemptible pleasures of this world. 4. There is nothing in this world which the all-devouring time will spare. He devours all things as the submarine fire consumes the over-flowing sea. 5. Time is the sovran lord of all, and equally terrible to all things. He is ever ready to devour all visible beings. 6. Time as master of all, spares not even the greatest of us for a moment. He swallows the universe within himself, whence he is known as the universal soul. 7. Time pervades all things, but has no perceptible feature of his own, except that he is imperfectly known by the names of years, ages and _kalpas_ (millenniums). 8. All that was fair and good, and as great as the mount of Meru, have gone down in the womb of eternity, as the snakes are gorged by the greedy Garuda. 9. There was no one ever so unkind, hard-hearted, cruel, harsh or miserly, whom time has not devoured. 10. Time is ever greedy although he should devour the mountains. This great gourmand is not satiated with gorging every thing in all the worlds. 11. Time like an actor plays many parts on the stage of the world. He abstracts and kills, produces and devours and at last destroys every thing. 12. Time is incessantly picking up the seeds of all the four kinds of living beings from this unreal world, as a parrot picks up the seeds from under the cracked shell of a pomegranate. (_Viz._ the ovipari, vivipari, vegetables and the ephemerids). 13. Time like a wild elephant uproots all proud living beings in this world, as the other pulls up the trees of the forest with their tusks. 14. This creation of God is like a forest, having Brahmá for its foundation and its trees full of the great fruits of gods. Time commands it throughout its length and breadth. 15. Time glides along incessantly as a creeping plant, composed of years and ages as its parts, and the sable nights as black bees chasing after them.