Living

Epigram XXXIX

by Bhartrihari traditionally 5th–7th century AD

Translated by Paul Elmer More (1898) · From A Century of Indian Epigrams (1898)

Living

Better from the sheer mountain-top
Headlong thy ruined body drop;
Better appease the serpent's ire
With thy right hand; or in the fire
Behold thy riven members tost,
Than once thy mind's integrity were lost.

MLA

Bhartrihari. “Epigram XXXIX.” Translated by Paul Elmer More. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/bhartrihari/37/.

Chicago

Bhartrihari. “Epigram XXXIX.” Translated by Paul Elmer More. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/bhartrihari/37/.

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