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4
Composed by Somasen Bhattaraka
Wise Vaishyas are known on earth, who are skilled in the discernment of Dharma and Adharma, I will separately explain their knowledge and conduct in detail. || 10 ||
Those who cultivate self-knowledge, are virtuous and practice austerities are called Brahmanas. Those who protect the helpless are considered Kshatriyas. And those who are proficient in examining Dharma and Adharma are Vaishyas. Therefore, their knowledge and conduct are said to be distinct. || 10 || Description of the virtuous and the wicked |
Good people do not care about the wicked by nature, they consider the trouble caused by the wicked as insignificant, just like a piece of cotton is consumed by the flame of a fire, but the fire itself is extinguished in the presence of water. || 11 ||
It is the nature of the wicked to cause trouble to the virtuous on earth, but it is also the nature of the virtuous to not care about them at all; rather, the wicked themselves are ashamed. So it is right that the flame of a fire of straw burns cotton, but it is extinguished in the presence of water. In short, if someone wicked finds fault with this composition of ours, we do not care. Even a little trouble from the wicked makes the wicked men tired and hesitant in their duty, but the great men complete what they have started, no matter how much trouble they face. || 11 ||
The virtuous always adopt the virtues of the virtuous, and the wicked adopt their vices,
May the virtuous be endowed with virtues,
All their own vices should be considered. || 12 ||
Let the wicked man take my faults upon himself. Those faults are his wealth, therefore I do not stop him from taking his own wealth; because even after repeated requests, he will never accept my virtues. || 13 ||
A poet knows the labor of poetry by a good poet,
A non-poet, who is incapable of composing poetry, cannot know it,
Just as a barren woman cannot know the pain of childbirth, but a woman who gives birth knows it. || 14 ||