Zhuangzi translation and commentary

莊子將死，弟子欲厚葬之。莊子曰：「吾以天地為棺槨，以日月為連璧，星辰為珠璣，萬物為齎送。吾葬具豈不備邪？何以加此！」

弟子曰：「吾恐烏鳶之食夫子也。」

莊子曰：「在上為烏鳶食，在下為螻蟻食，奪彼與此，何其偏也！」[a]

When Zhuangzi was about to die, his students wanted to bury him lavishly. He said to them, “I’ll have heaven and earth for a casket, the sun and moon for ornaments, the constellations as pall-bearers, and the ten thousand things as mourners. Isn’t everything prepared for the funeral? What could you add?”

“We’re afraid the crows and kites will eat you.”

“Above ground I’ll feed the crows and kites. Below I’ll feed the crickets and ants.” Zhuangzi said. “Stealing from one to give to the other would be awfully unfair.”

[a] CTP 32.16, HYZY 32/47-50.