Niti Shastra : Chapter Sixteen

1. The heart of a woman is not united; it is divided. While she is talking with

one man, she looks lustfully at another and thinks fondly of a third in her

heart.

2. The fool (mudha) who fancies that a charming young lady loves him,

becomes her slave and he dances like a shakuntal bird tied to a string.

 

3. Who is there who, having become rich, has not become proud? What

licentious man has put an end to his calamities? What man in this world has

not been overcome by a woman? Who is always loved by the king? Who is

there who has not been overcome by the ravages of time? What beggar has

attained glory? Who has become happy by contracting the vices of the

wicked?

4. A man attains greatness by his merits, not simply by occupying an exalted

seat. Can we call a crow an eagle (garuda) simply because he sits on the top

of a tall building.

5. The man who is praised by others as great is regarded as worthy though he

may be really void of all merit. But the man who sings his own praises lowers

himself in the estimation of others though he should be Indra (the possessor

of all excellences).

6. If good qualities should characterise a man of discrimination, the brilliance

of his qualities will be recognised just as a gem, which is essentially bright,

really shines when fixed in an ornament of gold.

7. Even one who by his qualities appears to be all knowing suffers without

patronage; the gem, though precious, requires a gold setting.

8. I do not deserve that wealth which is to be attained by enduring much

suffering, or by transgressing the rules of virtue, or by flattering an enemy.

9. Those who were not satiated with the enjoyment of wealth, food and

women have all passed away; there are others now passing away who have

likewise remained unsatiated; and in the future still others will pass away

feeling themselves unsatiated.

10. All charities and sacrifices (performed for fruitive gain) bring only

temporary results, but gifts made to deserving persons and protection offered

to all creatures shall never perish

11. A blade of grass is light, cotton is lighter, and the beggar is infinitely lighter

still. Why then does not the wind carry him away? Because it fears that he

may ask alms of him.

12. It is better to die than to preserve this life by incurring disgrace. The loss

of life causes but a moment's grief, but disgrace brings grief every day of

one's life.

13. All the creatures are pleased by loving words; and therefore we should

address words that are pleasing to all, for there is no lack of sweet words.

14. There are two nectarine fruits hanging from the tree of this world: one is

the hearing of sweet words (such as Krsna-katha) and the other, the society of

saintly men.

15. The good habits of charity, learning and austerity practised during many

past lives continue to be cultivated in this birth by virtue of the link (yoga) of

this present life to the previous ones.

16. One whose knowledge is confined to books and whose wealth is in the

possession of others, can use neither his knowledge nor wealth when the

need for them arises.