287. When the bird has flown away from it, one cares no longer for the cage. So when the bird of life has flown away, no one cares any longer for the carcase.
288. As a lamp does not burn without oil, so a man cannot live without God.
289. 290. A learned Brahman once went over to a wise king and said, 'Hear, O king, I am well versed in the holy scriptures. I intend to teach thee the holy book of the BhSgavata.' The king, who was the wiser of the two, well knew that a man who has read the Bhagavata would seek more to know his own Self than honour and wealth in a king's court He replied, * I see, O Brahman, that you yourself have not mastered that book thoroughly. I promise to make you my tutor, but go first and learn the scripture well' The Brlhman went his way, thinking within himself ' How foolish the king is to say I have not mastered the Bhgavata well, when I have been reading the book over and over again for all these years.' However, he went over the book carefully once more and appeared before the king. The king told him the same thing again and sent him away. The Brahman was sore vexed, but thought there must be some meaning for this behaviour of the king. He went home, shut himself up in his closet, and applied him- self more than ever to the study of the book* By and by the hidden meanings began to flash before his intellect; the vanity of running after the bubbles, riches and honour, kings and courts, wealth and fame, all vanished before his unclouded vision. From that day forward he gave
