I36 
“ SABBÉ PI DUKKHAM  ” 
 
Strangles all desires in their beginning, 
Leaves no egg of thought to hatch its serpent 
Thrice detested for unnatural breeding— 
Basilisk, to slay the maddened gazer. 
Thus the wise man, for no glory-guerdon, 
Hope of life or joy in earth or heaven, 
Works, rejecting all the flowers of promise 
Dew-lit that surround his path ; but keepeth 
Steady all his will to one endeavour, 
Till the light, the might, the joy, the sorrow, 
Life and death and love and hate are broken : 
Work effaces work, avails the worker. 
Strength, speed, ardour, courage and endurance 
(Needed never more) depart for ever. 
All dissolves, an unsubstantial phantom, 
Ghost of morning seen before the sunrise, 
Ghost of daylight seen beyond the sunset. 
All hath past beyond the soul’s delusion. 
All hath changèd to the ever changeless. 
Name and form in nameless and in formless 
Vanish, vanish and are lost for ever.