Indian Antiquary Vol 02

SR No.: 032494
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 379

DECEMBER, 1873.]
THE NALADIYAR.
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are wealthy, O thou who hast eyes elongated like a lance! when one investigates the matter, it is nothing else but the effect of deeds done in a former birth. 6. (O Lakshmi, who like a golden image sits upon that fair flower whose leaves are like seentless plates of gold, die and become ashes upon the ground! you connect yourself with the mean of all sorts, leaving the good who resemble gold. 7. O thou who hast eyes like a lance! is not shame attached to the poverty of the jast? Is not the wealth of the miser like painters'-green ? (i.e. it so cleaves to him that he will not give alms.) When thou hast investigated these two states thou wilt not ap- prove or desire either of them. 8. Those who are honest (when they become poor), going to distant lands, and eating various kinds of food, will spend their days; while those who are dishonest (when they become poor) will sit in their houses and eat curry and rice while the perspiration streams from their bodies, and will not go to distant lands. 9. When the ear of the golden-red paddy is scorched, the heaven bright with light- ning will vomit and pour forth (rain) into the SCA. The liberality of those who are simple, even when they are possessed of riches, is of like character. 10. Those are the senseless who, though they read, understand not. The sensible, though they read not, resemble the learned. Those who, though utterly poor, will not beg, are the truly rich. Even the rich are poor if they give not.
CHAPTER 28.-IUiberality. 1. To give a part of their meal to the extent of their ability, both to the friendly and unfriendly, and after that to eat, is truly to eat a meal. To those who refuse their food to the needy, and so live and eat and pass on, the door of heaven will be closed. 2. Those who have, to the best of their ability, practised to any extent trifling acts of charity, will in another birth become great ; while those who, when they have become wealthy, say, We will give alms some cime or other, shall be punished and shall perish from all the sea-surrounded earth. 3. He who employs not his time in enjoying his property, or gives not of it to ascetics, but lays it up (like a miser) at him, the foolish one, about to perish, his hoarded wealth shall mock, and the favour of the world shall mock. 4. The great wealth which the miserly-minded have attained, who neither know how to give it away nor to use it
themselves, shall be like the beauteous damsels of a family, who when they have arrived at puberty are enjoyed by others; 6. e. others than its owner shall enjoy it. 5. Though they live near the mighty ocean whose waters overflow, men look on the spring of a small well whose water is almost dried up and live. The poverty of the great is better than the riches of those who know not of the next birth. 6. If you ask why I say, It is mine, It is mine, concerning the property of that ignorant man who gives not to others, saying, It is mine, It is mine --while it belongs to that wretched man he gives it not in alms, neither does he himself enjoy it, neither do I give it away in alms or enjoy it myself. 7. The poor are more exempt from trouble than the niggardly rich. They are exempt from the labour of guarding that wealth. They are exempt from the trouble of bringing it. They are exempt from the pain of having their hands bound. In many ways are they exempt from trouble. 8. While the property is his own, he gives it not away; when it becomes the property of his partners, they also give it not away in alms. If he gives it away before his death, the partners will find no fault with him; if after death they give it away, he will not find fault with them. 9. Comparing beggars to a calf, and benefactors to a cow, such a spontaneous benevolence is true benevolence. Forced charity is as when a cow will only give its milk when coerced by strong men, who push it about and apply various instruments to its limbs. Such benevolence is the mark of a base mind. 10. The seeking to accumulate wealth is a cause of vexation. The guarding that collected shining wealth causes vexation. Again, if any of that wealth which is so guarded be diminished, there is vexation. If it be lost, how great the vexation! Truly this said wealth is the very abode of vexation.
CHAPTER 29.--Poverty. 1. Although a man live wearing a patched cloth round his loins, yet the possession of eight or ten pieces of money will gaia him great honour among many persons. Those who have nothing at all, though born of a respectable family, are considered (by such as more despicable than a dead carcase. 2. It is said that ghee is more subtle than water, and all know that smoke is more subtle than ghee. If you inquire, you will find that the afflicted mendicants will creep