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370
VAJJALAGGAM
[675
675) One's own deeds (performed in a previous life) take (drag) a person forcibly, as if catching hold of his neck, to where he obtains happiness or where he meets his death or falls in bondage.
676) It is the consequence (fruition) of one's own good or bad deeds done previously, that manifests itself (everywhere); why yield to fear or anxiety or to excessive sorrow (distress) ?
677) Who is able to give anything or to take away anything? Oh son (oh my dear boy), whatever result (consequence) has been ordained (by fate) (in the case of a person), that alone falls to his lot, according to the deeds done by him in a previous life.
75. The Section on the Proper Place
678) An elephant, wandering on the peak of the Vindhya mountain, does not attain to that greatness (dignity, prestige and importance), which he enjoys when standing in the court-yard of of a king's palace. Virtues spread out and make themselves felt only when they are in the proper surroundings.
679) That importance to which sandal-paste attains (or which it comes to possess), when appearing on the cheeks of a grown-up (adult) lady, it does not possess that importance while it is on the peaks of the Malaya mountain. Virtues spread out and make themselves felt only when they are in the proper surroundings.
680) Collyrium, even when appearing on the top of a lamp, does not possess that importance which it gets when put in the eyes of a lovely young woman. Virtues spread out and make themselves felt only when they are in the proper place (setting).
681) Oh dear friend, whoever feels (shows) any respect (or regard) for hair, teeth, nails, the head-man of a village, young married women, and amongst young married women for the breasts when they have fallen down from their proper place?
682) A wise man does not forsake his post (of duty) (or position) even when confronted by (or, does not yield his place
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