Verses 670–679

670. The scamp who cannot give up connection with a Viti woman (of the sword-playing caste) will carry about her mat and hovel (or tent) till death. Never care or aspire to an intimacy with the Bhagavat (actors who are respectable).

671. When they behold their refuge Vishnu or wealth, or studies that have pleasing taste however great they be, all men feel desire.

672. A man who is sent (lit. who sent) into the world, hear me, consider not one thing eternal and another temporal; such is his conduct. His projects constitute his family; and the destruction of his projects shall form the ultimate bliss.

673. The words of truth are equal in excellence with the streams in which Siva is; (abhisheca) bathed. The body is his temple. He who hath attained peace and placed with God in his soul, this is the Siva Yogi.

674. No numbers of corporal bodies form an obstacle to a death. To what end is that knowledge that teaches not how to avoid death; this is mere thievish fraud. Shall salvation be hereby attained?

675. Whatever shape we behold, it shows thy form. To view thy form increases wisdom; if understanding increase, a man is held to be the lord.

676. Carnudu was noble; who in the world is greater? He meditated bestowing gifts, no man knows of the excellence of him who doth no good to others.

677. Ignorant of the stability of wisdom the variable mortal roams the world. The ignorant wretch cannot consider why it is he thus roams.

678. When a man does not know what to do with his time, he cannot get on without listening to some learning or other. But this is fruitless; famina not audit murmura cassor inter futuendum?

679. To what end do the men of the earth practise austerity and meditation? There but one mode to behold God. Let not thy mind wander and thou shalt know him.