Chanakya Neeti

[vadapav]

1.  ...
2.  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.

[vadapav]

3. 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.

[vadapav]

4. Who is there who, having become rich, has not become proud? Which
licentious (Free) man has put an end to his calamities (A grievous
disaster)? Which 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? Which beggar has attained
glory? Who has become happy by contracting the vices of the wicked?

[vadapav]

5. ...
6. 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.

[vadapav]

7. ...
8. 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).

[vadapav]

9. 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.

[vadapav]

10. Even one who by his qualities appears to be all knowing suffers without
patronage; the gem, though precious, requires a gold setting.

[vadapav]

11. 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.

[vadapav]

12. ...
13. 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.

[vadapav]

14. All charities and sacrifices (performed for fruitive gain) bring only
temporary results, but gifts made to deserving persons (those who are
Krishna consciousness) and protection offered to all creatures shall
never perish.

[vadapav]

15. A blade of grass is light, cotton is lighter, 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.

[vadapav]

17. 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.

[vadapav]

18. There are two nectarean fruits hanging from the tree of this world: one
is the hearing of sweet words (such as Krishna-katha) and the other, the
society of saintly men.

[vadapav]

19. 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.

[vadapav]

20. 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.