Of what use

Lamp duly doused, what use more oil? Thieves absconded, what use vigil? Wooing women once vigour gone, Building bridge water has when flown. _______________________ Translation |15.10.2024| lamp, thief, old age, woman, water, bridge Poet’s note: Sanskrit has thousands of verses of wisdom called Subhashhitam. What use is adding oil, once the lamp is already doused? What use is vigilance once the thief has stolen things and gone? Once flood waters have flown, what use is building a dam? They are like wooing a woman when youth has duly gone. The transliteration of the Sanskrit verse follows: Nirvaane pradeepe kim u taila daanam, chaure gate kim u saavadhaanam | Vayo gate kim vanitaa vilaasah, payo gate kim khalu setu-bandhah ||