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## 354
A person ignorant of virtues and vices, who praises or criticizes, does so only for the sake of ridicule, like a blind man who praises or criticizes someone's appearance. ||26||
Even an ignorant person may criticize or praise, but otherwise, it is a source of amusement for the witty. ||27||
Great men do not consider petty disturbances as significant. Just as a spark of fire can burn cotton but not heat the ocean, so too, great men are not affected by petty criticisms. ||28||
Fire, born of wood, burns wood, but the wood nourishes the fire. These two examples, like a lamp, illuminate the nature of good and bad. ||29||
Upon hearing praise or criticism of my work, let the wicked point out its virtues and vices. For even though they are incapable of creating something good, their praise or criticism will contribute to my fame. ||30||
The words of a great poet are like the arrows of Arjuna. Just as Arjuna's arrows, when used, pierced the heart of the ill-bred Karna (King Karna), so too, the words of a great poet, when used, pierce the heart of the ill-bred Karna (the ear). ||31||
This work has been created with reverence for the great poets of the past. Therefore, may the poets of the present and future kindly purify it. ||32||
Just as a queen gives birth to a noble daughter and a nursemaid nurtures her, so too, my intellect has given birth to this work, and the intellect of the great poets will nurture it like a nursemaid. ||33||
Let the wise understand this, but let the ignorant not grasp it. For what can the unrighteous, who have not accumulated merit, buy with their wealth? ||34||
Let the Supreme Being (Narayana or the perfect man) hold dear the great jewel of Dharma, born from the ocean of scriptures, considering it more precious than the Kaustubha gem. ||35||
I still request you not to appreciate my virtues. The work will be free from flaws if the wicked point out its flaws, and being flawless, it will be pleasing to all. But if its virtues are appreciated, it will become devoid of virtues and will not be pleasing to anyone. Therefore, the Acharya has told the wicked man, "You may point out the flaws in my work, for they are your wealth, but do not touch its virtues." ||25||