cation of desire, and while, still
thinking, "This has been done; this is to be done; this has been
half-done." Death bears away the man, however designated according to his
profession, attached to his field, his shop, or his home, before he has
obtained the fruit of his acts. Death bears away the weak, the strong,
the brave, the timid, the idiotic, and the learned, before any of these
obtains the fruits of his acts. When death, decrepitude, disease, and
sorrow arising from diverse causes, are all residing in thy body, how is
it that thou livest as if thou art perfectly hale? As soon as a creature
is born, Decrepitude and Death pursue him for (effecting) his
destruction. All existent things, mobile and immobile, are affected by
these two. The attachment which one feels for dwelling in villages and
towns (in the midst of fellowmen) is said to be the very mouth of Death.
The forest, on the other hand, is regarded as the fold within which the
senses may be penned. This is declared by the Srutis.[515] The attachment
a person feels for dwelling in a village or town (in the midst of men) is
like a cord that binds him effectually. They that are good break that
cord and attain to emancipation, while they that are wicked do not
succeed in breaking them. He who never injures living creatures by
thought, word, or deed, is never injured by such agencies as are
destructive of life and property.[516] Nothing can resist the messengers
(Disease and Decrepitude) of Death when they advance except Truth which
devours Untruth. In Truth is immortality.[517] For these reasons one
should practise the vow of Truth; one should devote oneself to a union
with Truth; one should accept Truth for one's Veda; and restraining one's
senses, one should vanquish the Destroyer by Truth. Both Immortality and
Death are planted in the body. One comes to Death through ignorance and
loss of judgment; while Immortality is achieved through Truth. I shall,
therefore, abstain from injury and seek to achieve Truth, and
transgressing the sway of desire and wrath, regard pleasure and pain with
an equal eye, and attaining tranquillity, avoid Death like an immortal.
Upon the advent of that season when the sun will progress towards the
north, I shall restraining my senses, set to the performance of the
Santi-sacrifice, the Brahma-sacrifice, the Mind-sacrifice, and the
Work-sacrifice.[518] How can one like me worship his Maker in
animal-sacrifices involving cruelty, or sac