The moon shone with undiminished brilliance in the sky crested with star like the saint, who has reached the last stage of bodily existence in the company of the pious. The rivers and lakes slowly went far off from their banks as the wise by degrees shrink from the selfish attachment that connects them with their wife and children. The swans again began to frequent those lakes which they had abandoned before like false ascetics whose devotions are interrupted and they are again stricken with numberless afflictions.

In plain words: The moon shone brightly among the stars, like a saint near the end of life among good people. Rivers slowly drew back from their banks, like wise people slowly loosening their attachment to family. Swans came back to the lakes, like false hermits who slip back into worldly troubles.