Friedrich Muller
Friedrich Muller
fruit grows life man monkey runs seeking thirst
The thirst of a thoughtless man grows like a creeper; he runs from life to life, like a monkey seeking fruit in the forest.
among best elephant endures king lead tamed
They lead a tamed elephant to battle, the king mounts a tamed elephant; the tamed is the best among men, he who silently endures abuse.
autumn cut love thy
Cut out the love of self, like an autumn lotus, with thy hand!
amidst blame falter people rock solid wise
As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind, wise people falter not amidst blame and praise.
again driven held pain run undergo
Men, driven on by thirst, run about like a snared hare; held in fetters and bonds, they undergo pain for a long time, again and again.
destroy destroys foolish pleasures thirst
Pleasures destroy the foolish, if they look not for the other shore; the foolish by his thirst for pleasures destroys himself, as if he were his own enemy.
bad beloved forbid
Let him admonish, let him teach, let him forbid what is improper!he will be beloved of the good, by the bad he will be hated.
commit elephant few man walk
Let a man walk alone, let him commit no sin, with few wishes, like an elephant in the forest.
abuse arrow battle elephant endure endures sent shall
Silently shall I endure abuse as the elephant in battle endures the arrow sent from the bow: for the world is ill-natured.
great leave leaving man pleasure sees small wise
If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise man leave the small pleasure, and look to the great.
furious hold holds hook mind mine rider shall wandering
This mind of mine went formerly wandering about as it liked, as it listed, as it pleased; but I shall now hold it in thoroughly, as the rider who holds the hook holds in the furious elephant.
act bear committed evil fruit
For an evil act committed in the world does not bear fruit at once, like a cow.
law learnt man sees supporter talks
A man is not a supporter of the law because he talks much; even if a man has learnt little, but sees the law bodily, he is a supporter of the law, a man who never neglects the law.
age elder head man
A man is not an elder because his head is grey; his age may be ripe, but he is called 'Old-in-vain.'