100 verses on renunciation

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>From "100 Verses of Renunciation" by Bhartrihari:

 

Verse #48

 

Desires have worn off in our heart. Alas, youth has also passed away.

Virtues have proved barren for want of appreciative admirers.

Powerful, all-destroying, unrelenting Death is fast hastening in. What

is to be done? Ah me! I see there is no other refuge left except the

feet of the Destroyer of Cupid.

 

(The "Destroyer of Cupid" refers to Shiva in allusion to His having

turned the god of love, Cupid, to ashes on the eve of his marriage to

Gauri.)

 

Though we may not be staring into the face of death today, we can

never, ever, be certain when that will be the case. Even very young

children die before our eyes. There is a real urgency every minute of

time to go forward, to push on, to dive deep, to struggle, to yearn

for the realization of our heart's desire.

Edith