37. Boyhood lasts but a few days, and then it is succeeded by youth which is as quickly followed by old age: thus there being no identity of the same person, how can one rely on the uniformity of external objects? 38. The mind that gets delighted in a moment and becomes dejected in the next, and assumes likewise its equanimity at another, is indeed as changeful as an actor. 39. The creator who is ever turning one thing into another in his work of creation, is like a child who makes and breaks his doll without concern. 40. The actions of producing and collecting (of grains), of feeding (one’s self) and destroying (others), come by turns to mankind like the rotation of day and night. 41. Neither adversity nor prosperity is of long continuance in the case of worldly people, but they are ever subject to appearance and disappearance by turns. 42. Time is a skilful player and plays many parts with ease; but he is chiefly skilled in tragedy, and often plays his tragic part in the affairs of men. 43. All beings are produced as fruits in the great forest of the universe, by virtue of their good and bad acts (of past lives): and _time_ like a gust of wind blasts them day by day before their maturity. CHAPTER XXIX. UNRELIABLENESS OF WORLDLY THINGS. Thus is my heart consumed by the wild-fire of those great worldly evils, and there rises in me no desire of enjoying them, as there rises no mirage from a lake. 2. My existence upon earth gets bitter day by day, and though I have got some experience in it, yet its associations have made me as sour as the Nimba plant by its immersion in water. 3. I see wickedness on the increase, and righteousness on the decline in the mind of man, which like the sour _Karanja_ (crab) fruit, becomes sourer every day. 4. I see honour is eaten up every day by mutual altercations of men, using harsh words to each other as they crack the nuts under their teeth. 5. Too much eagerness for royalty and worldly enjoyments, is equally prejudicial to our welfare; as we loose our future prospects by the former, and our present happiness by the latter. 6. I take no delight in my gardens nor have any pleasure in women; I feel no joy at the prospect of riches, but enjoy my solace in my own heart and mind. 7. Frail are the pleasures of the world, and avarice is altogether intolerable; the bustle of business has broken down my heart, and (I know not) where to have my tranquility. 8. Neither do I hail death nor am I in love with my life; but remain as I do, devoid of all anxiety and care. 9. What have I to do with a kingdom and with all its enjoyments? Of what avail are riches to me, and what is the end of all our exertions? All these are but requirements of self-love, from which I am entirely free.