84.   A rat fell by night into the jaws of a serpent whose body had been squeezed into a basket, and who was halfdead with hunger. The serpent, revived by his meal, went forth, and immediately meeting with the same fate as the rat, perished. Be content, O my friends, with your lot! The success or failure of men is in the hands of fate.

85.   A ball, though it fall to the ground, flies up again by the strokes of the hand. Even so the misfortunes of good men are not often lasting.

86.   Idleness is a great enemy to mankind: there is no friend like energy; for if you cultivate that it will never fail.

87.   The tree that is cut down grows again; the moon that wanes waxes again after a time. Thus do wise men reflect, and, though distressed, are not overwhelmed.

88.   Indra, though guided by Vṛihaspati, and armed with the thunderbolt; though the deities were his soldiers, and Vishnu his ally; though Svarga was his citadel, and the elephant Airasvata his steed, was defeated. How resistless is the power of fate! How vain are human efforts!

89.   Discernment is the fruit of men’s actions, and is the result produced by deeds performed in another state: this must be carefully considered by the wise man who gives heed to all things.

90.   A bald-headed man was scorched by the rays of the sun on his head, and seeking a shady place, went, under the guidance of fate, to the foot of a palm tree. While resting there, the fruit of the tree fell with a loud noise on his head and broke it. Even so, wherever the unfortunate man goes, he generally meets with disaster.

91.   When I see the sun and moon exposed in the eclipse to the assaults of the demon; when I behold the bonds which hold a serpent or an elephant; when I behold the wise man in poverty, then the thought strikes me, “How mighty is the power of fate!”

92.   Fate brings forth an excellent man–a very mine of virtue–and in a moment works his ruin. Alas! how unreasoning is the action of fate!

93.   It is not the fault of the spring that the leafless tree does not produce leaves; it is not the fault of the sun that the owl cannot see by day; it is not the fault of the rain-cloud that the drops do not fall into the cuckoo’s mouth. Who shall reverse that which fate has written on the forehead of each?