Shanti Parva 186.5
Rahular Itihasa / M. N. Dutt · Shanti Parva Chapter 186 · Verse 5
Sanskrit Original
संश्लेषो यदि वातेन यदि तस्मात् प्रणश्यति। महार्णवविमुक्तत्वादन्यत् सलिलभाजनम्॥ कूपे वा सलिलं दद्यात् प्रदीपं वा हुताशने। क्षिप्रं प्रविश्य नश्येत यथा नश्यत्यसौ तथा॥
If life depended upon air, and if it ended with the passing of that air from the body, it would then mingle with the eternal air like a portion of water passing into the great sea and thereby only changing the place of its residence. If a quantity of water be thrown into a well, or if the flame of a lamp be thrown into a burning fire, either of them, entering the original element, loses its independent existence. If life were air, it also, when the animal died, would merge in the great sea of air outside.