Living
Epigram LXVIII
Translated by Paul Elmer More (1898) · From A Century of Indian Epigrams (1898)
Time is the root of all this earth;
These creatures, who from Time had birth,
Within his bosom at the end
Shall sleep; Time hath nor enemy nor friend.
All we in one long caravan
Are journeying since the world began;
We know not whither, but we know
Time guideth at the front, and all must go.
Like as the wind upon the field
Bows every herb, and all must yield,
So we beneath Time's passing breath
Bow each in turn, — why tears for birth or death?
Cite this poem
MLA
Bhartrihari. “Epigram LXVIII.” Translated by Paul Elmer More. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/bhartrihari/63/.
Chicago
Bhartrihari. “Epigram LXVIII.” Translated by Paul Elmer More. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/bhartrihari/63/.
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