THE DURATION OF LIFE
When God had created the world and was about to fix
the length of each creature's life, the ass came and
asked, "Lord, how long shall I live?" "Thirty years,"
replied God; "does that content thee?" "Ah, Lord,"
answered the ass, "that is a long time. Think of
my painful existence! To carry heavy burdens from
morning to night, to drag sacks of corn to the mill,
that others may eat bread, to be cheered and refreshed
with nothing but blows and kicks. Relieve me of a
portion of this long time." Then God had pity on him
and relieved him of eighteen years. The ass went
away comforted.
The dog appeared. "How long wouldst thou like
to live?" said God to him. "Thirty years are
too many for the ass, but thou wilt be satisfied
with that." "Lord," answered the dog, "is that Thy
will? Consider how I shall have to run; my feet will
never hold out so long, and when I have once lost
my voice for barking, and my teeth for biting, what
will be left for me to do but run from one corner
to another and growl?" God saw that he was right,
and released him from twelve years of life.
Then came the monkey. "Thou wilt certainly live thirty
years willingly," said the Lord to him. "Thou hast no
need to work as the ass and the dog have to do, and
wilt always enjoy thyself." "Ah! Lord," he answered,
"it may seem as if that were the case, but it is quite
different. When it rains porridge I have no spoon. I
am always to play merry pranks, and make faces which
force people to laugh, and if they give me an apple,
and I bite into it, why it is sour! How often sadness
hides itself behind mirth! I shall never be able to
hold out for thirty years." God was gracious and took
off ten.
At last man appeared, joyous, healthy and vigorous,
and begged God to appoint his time for him. "Thirty
years shalt thou live," said the Lord. "Is that
enough for thee?" "What a short time," cried man,
"when I have built my house and my fire burns on my
own hearth; when I have planted trees which blossom
and bear fruit, and am just intending to enjoy my
life, I am to die! O Lord, lengthen my time." "I will
add to it the ass's eighteen years," said God. "That
is not enough," replied the man. "Thou shalt also
have the dog's twelve years." "Still too little!"
"Well, then," said God, "I will give thee the monkey's
ten years also, but more thou shalt not have." The
man went away, but was not satisfied.
So man lives seventy years. The first thirty are
his human years, which are soon gone; then is he
healthy, merry, works with pleasure, and is glad of
his life. Then follow the ass's eighteen years, when
one burden after another is laid on him; he has to
carry the corn which feeds others, and blows and kicks
are the reward of his faithful services. Then come the
dog's twelve years, when he lies in the corner, and
growls and has no longer any teeth to bite with, and
when this time is over the monkey's ten years form the
end. Then man is weak-headed and foolish, does silly
things, and becomes the jest of the children. - -
ayur harati vai pumsam
udyann astam ca yann asau
tasyarte yat-ksano nita
uttama-sloka-vartaya
Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one who
utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead. SB 2.3.17
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