English
A woman desires a lovely form, A man, a heroic form. 15. Fireflies blaze, By the action of wing movement; These are lazy and sleepy, So too are people who are workers. 16. Like the contraction of a leech, Restraint even in battle; At the right time, the wise in policy, Should rise up like a black snake. 17. Lions with uplifted minds, Do not eat leftovers; Nor do they despise others, Thus should one act, desiring growth. 18. The old year has not yet arisen, The old year has passed away; In the new year, new loving-kindness, Should be cultivated by one seeking welfare. 19. Diseases do not torment one who enjoys pleasures without attachment, Faults of policy do not befall the wise; Whom does prosperity Death does not honor anyone, nor does it kill. Thirst does not torment those without desires. (Ka) With a span's measure of a stick, One measures the water in a well; Whether shallow or deep, One thinks the unfathomable is deep. (Kha) Likewise, a fool in understanding, Thinks the unfathomable is wise; He does not know equality, Much or little, sharp or dull. They associate with evil deeds, And not with skillful deeds here; Carrying death on their heads, Those fools are in foolish company. Two kinds of association exist in the world, Straightforward and crooked; Only the straightforward should be praised, Not the other, unjust association. With this method, united and rejoicing, they live near the great wall. Even if watered again and again, A jasmine does not flower; It flowers when the time comes, Thus, maintain your energy. The collection of wealth and the throwing of wealth, Are two kinds of wealth acquisition; There is strategy in the collection of wealth, But not here in the throwing of wealth. A motherless, father-grown child, And a fickle gambler; A wise person should not address, If he desires his own success. Turmeric-colored, monkey-minded, A man with passion and dispassion; Such a one, father, do not associate with, Even if he is inhuman. Qualities become qualities in those who know qualities, Having reached the unqualified, they become faults; Rivers originate as drinkable water, Having reached the ocean, they become undrinkable. They fashion a stone image, By repeatedly striking it; Likewise, fools are shaped by blows, When advised by the wise. A verse from Chanakya's ethics In indulgence, there are many faults, In punishment, there are many virtues; Therefore, a son and a student, Punish, but do not indulge. Whoever reveals the faults, Of a friend from the past; He is said to reveal, The faults of the present. Like vines are those servants, Who cling to a support; With the destruction of the support, They lie on the ground, helpless. Piercing with the horns of faults, Trampling with the hooves of pride, Ah! He causes fear in the world, Like a foolish cow, a destroyer. 31. At first, this world above, Stands in a straight line; By false winds, that world, Is brought down, lacking straightness. 32. Well-made by the potter, Not fit to be used; In that likeness, one should see, One's own deeds and the deeds of others. 33. Even the sun, with its rays, Cannot pierce the dense darkness; Similarly, those deluded by passion, Cannot break through delusion, And shine with the light of wisdom. 34. Misery and enmity in the poor, Disease and trouble in the wealthy; Enmity and hatred in the powerful, See the variety of enmity in the world. 35. By acquiring great wealth, One makes one's own life pure; He is superior by that life, Despicable is the life of impurity. 36. He who does not understand, The difference between diamonds and sapphires; How can he sell them, Or buy them properly? 37. If an ant, even thinking, Dares to break a mountain; A woman, weak and slender-waisted, Her thought is just foolish laughter. 38. He who does not subdue, An enemy or disease as soon as it arises; Even a mighty one is killed, When it grows and reaches maturity. 39. Those who eat living flesh, With mouths always bared; The teeth of cats, tigers, and lions, Are inferior in many ways; Sharp and harsh are the words, That come from the mouths of humans. 40. Plundering, they run about, By a livelihood of killing living beings; People are harmed by that, They wander, turning away from the Dhamma. 41. Worldly things are easily found in the world, But the teachings of the Buddha are rare; Despising that which is rare, He is the greatest of fools. 42. He who makes a firebreak, Thinking to help, out of delusion; Another then makes a break, The second one is utterly foolish. 43. A tiger, struck by a weapon, Makes fierce, angry roars; Likewise, a fool, struck, By the truth of the wise, becomes enraged. 44. Horseflies drink blood, Mosquitoes with their inner trunks; They surround from the outside, People are stung by them. 45. Little time for the poor, The true Dhamma is short-lived; Therefore, one should strive with that little. A precious moment, May you obtain it abundantly.