delight in honest deeds, do what tendeth to their
happiness and prosperity, and never sneer at what
is good. He who exulteth not at honours, and grieveth
not at slights, and remaineth cool and unagitated
like a lake in the course of Ganga, is reckoned as
wise. That man who knoweth the nature of all creatures
(viz., that everything is subject to destruction),
who is cognisant also of the connections of all acts,
and who is proficient in the knowledge of the means
that men may resort to (for attaining their objects),
is reckoned as wise. He who speaketh boldly,
can converse on various subjects, knoweth the science
of argumentation, possesseth genius, and can interpret
the meaning of what is writ in books, is reckoned as
wise. He whose studies are regulated by reason,
and whose reason followeth the scriptures, and who
never abstaineth from paying respect to those that
are good, is called a wise man. He, on the other
hand, who is ignorant of scripture yet vain, poor
yet proud, and who resorteth to unfair means for the
acquisition of his objects, is a fool. He who,
forsaking his own, concerneth himself with the objects
of others, and who practiseth deceitful means for
serving his friends, is called a fool. He who
wisheth for those things that should not be desired,
and forsaketh those that may legitimately be desired,
and who beareth malice to those that are powerful,
is regarded to be a foolish soul. He who regardeth
his foe as his friend, who hateth and beareth malice
to his friend, and who committeth wicked deeds, is
said to be a person of foolish soul. O bull of
the Bharata race, he who divulgeth his projects, doubteth
in all things, and spendeth a long time in doing what
requireth a short time, is a fool. He who doth
not perform the Sraddha for the Pitris, nor worshippeth
the deities, nor acquireth noble-minded friends, is
said to be a person of foolish soul. That worst
of men who entereth a place uninvited, and talketh
much without being asked, and reposeth trust on untrustworthy
wights, is a fool. That man who being himself
guilty casteth the blame on others, and who though
impotent giveth vent to anger, is the most foolish
of men. That man, who, without knowing his own
strength and dissociated from both virtue and profit,
desireth an object difficult of acquisition, without
again adopting adequate means, is said to be destitute
of intelligence. O king, he who punisheth one
that is undeserving of punishment, payeth homage to
persons without their knowledge, and waiteth upon
misers, is said to be of little sense. But he
that, having attained immense wealth and prosperity
or acquired (vast) learning, doth not bear himself
haughtily, is reckoned as wise. Who, again, is
more heartless than he, who, though possessed of affluence,
eateth himself and weareth excellent robes himself
without distributing his wealth among his dependents?
While one person committeth sins, many reap the advantage
resulting therefrom; (yet in the end) it is the doer