09-01
मुक्तिमिच्छसि चेत्तात विषयान्विषवत्त्यज ।
क्षमार्जवदयाशौचं सत्यं पीयूषवत्पिब ॥ ०९-०१ ॥
If you desire liberation, O child, shun the objects of the senses like poison, and drink in, as if it were nectar, forgiveness, straightforwardness, compassion, purity, and truth.
09-02
परस्परस्य मर्माणि ये भाषन्ते नराधमाः ।
त एव विलयं यान्ति वल्मीकोदरसर्पवत् ॥ ०९-०२ ॥
The lowest of men who speak of the secret faults of others perish, just like a serpent that has crawled into an anthill.
09-03
गन्धः सुवर्णे फलमिक्षुदण्डे
नाकरि पुष्पं खलु चन्दनस्य ।
विद्वान्धनाढ्यश्च नृपश्चिरायुः
धातुः पुरा कोऽपि न बुद्धिदोऽभूत् ॥ ०९-०३ ॥
The fragrance is in the gold, the fruit in the sugarcane stalk, the flower is absent in the sandalwood tree. A learned man, a wealthy man, and a long-lived king — none of these were ever fashioned as such by the Creator in the beginning.
09-04
सर्वौषधीनाममृता प्रधाना
सर्वेषु सौख्येष्वशनं प्रधानम् ।
सर्वेन्द्रियाणां नयनं प्रधानं
सर्वेषु गात्रेषु शिरः प्रधानम् ॥ ०९-०४ ॥
Among all medicines, myrobalan is the chief; among all enjoyments, food is the chief; among all sense organs, the eye is the chief; and among all parts of the body, the head is the chief.
09-05
दूतो न सञ्चरति खे न चलेच्च वार्ता
पूर्वं न जल्पितमिदं न च सङ्गमोऽस्ति ।
व्योम्नि स्थितं रविशशिग्रहणं प्रशस्तं
जानाति यो द्विजवरः स कथं न विद्वान् ॥ ०९-०५ ॥
A messenger does not travel in the sky, nor did news ever move without him. This matter was never spoken of before, nor is there any visible conjunction of the planets. Yet the learned Brahmin knows precisely the auspicious moment of the solar and lunar eclipse; how then is he not a man of knowledge?
09-06
विद्यार्थी सेवकः पान्थः क्षुधार्तो भयकातरः ।
भाण्डारी प्रतिहारी च सप्त सुप्तान्प्रबोधयेत् ॥ ०९-०६ ॥
One desiring learning, a servant, a traveller, one afflicted with hunger, one terrified by fear, a storekeeper, and a doorkeeper — these seven should be roused from sleep.
09-07
अहिं नृपं च शार्दूलं वृद्धं च बालकं तथा ।
परश्वानं च मूर्खं च सप्त सुप्तान्न बोधयेत् ॥ ०९-०७ ॥
A serpent, a king, a tiger, an old person, a child, another's dog, and a fool — these seven should not be roused from sleep.
09-08
अर्धाधीताश्च यैर्वेदास्तथा शूद्रान्नभोजनाः ।
ते द्विजाः किं करिष्यन्ति निर्विषा इव पन्नगाः ॥ ०९-०८ ॥
Those twice-born who have studied the Vedas only partially and who eat the food of a Śūdra — what will they accomplish? They are like serpents without venom.
09-09
यस्मिन्रुष्टे भयं नास्ति तुष्टे नैव धनागमः ।
निग्रहोऽनुग्रहो नास्ति स रुष्टः किं करिष्यति ॥ ०९-०९ ॥
With a man in whom, when angered, there is nothing to fear, and when pleased, there is no gain of wealth, who can neither harm nor help — what will such an angry man accomplish?
09-10
निर्विषेणापि सर्पेण कर्तव्या महती फणा ।
विषमस्तु न चाप्यस्तु घटाटोपो भयङ्करः ॥ ०९-१० ॥
Even a serpent without venom must raise a great hood; whether venom is present or not, the spreading of the hood itself inspires terror.
09-11
प्रातर्द्यूतप्रसङ्गेन मध्याह्ने स्त्रीप्रसङ्गतः ।
रात्रौ चौरप्रसङ्गेन कालो गच्छति धीमताम् ॥ ०९-११ ॥
By addiction to gambling in the morning, by attachment to women at midday, and by association with thieves at night, the time of even the wise slips away.
09-12
स्वहस्तग्रथिता माला स्वहस्तघृष्टचन्दनम् ।
स्वहस्तलिखितं स्तोत्रं शक्रस्यापि श्रियं हरेत् ॥ ०९-१२ ॥
A garland strung by one's own hand, sandalwood paste ground by one's own hand, a hymn composed by one's own hand — these can steal away even the fortune of Indra.
09-13
इक्षुदण्डास्तिलाः शूद्राः कान्ता हेम च मेदिनी ।
चन्दनं दधि ताम्बूलं मर्दनं गुणवर्धनम् ॥ ०९-१३ ॥
Sugarcane stalks, sesame seeds, Śūdras, a beloved woman, gold, the earth, sandalwood, curd, and betel leaf — the more these are crushed and handled, the more their excellent qualities increase.
09-14
दह्यमानाः सुतीव्रेण नीचाः परयशोऽग्निना
अशक्तास्तत्पदं गन्तुं ततो निन्दां प्रकुर्वते ।
दरिद्रता धीरतया विराजते कुवस्त्रता शुभ्रतया विराजते
कदन्नता चोष्णतया विराजते कुरूपता शीलतया विराजते ॥ ०९-१४ ॥
Scorched by the intense fire of another's glory, the low and the powerless, unable to reach that state, then resort to slander. Poverty shines through patience; shabby clothes shine through cleanliness; bad food shines through warmth; and ugliness shines through good character.