Indian Antiquary Vol 31

SR No.: 032523
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 556
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 417

OCTOBER, 1902.) SOME MILE STONES IN TELUGU LITERATURE.
409
40. A disobedient wife is as the goddess Death to her husband, a springing, hooded serpent ; a very demon; a wife at enmity with you is a fit wife for a demon ?
41. When he beholds a woman he is deprived of power to estimate justly; and is consumed with love as resin would be in the hottest fire: into what follies are we led by empty desire !
42. What is dearest of all things ? Life: but gold is dearer than a thousand lives and dearer than gold are the words of a maiden.
43. A woman who is a rover, loves none but rovers : how would she be pleased with a delicate lover? the dang-beetle cares not for the sweetness of sugar.
44. He desires pleasant food, and he longs for fair women: behold the evil heart of man! He cannot for an instant relinquish these temptations and reflect that they are unprofitable.
45. Desert not thy king even for a thousand others: when you have given a man food, tell it not, however poor you are, and however beautiful the wifo be, let her not scorn her husband.
46. Sons and wives are a more delusion; pleasure and pain ure a more deception; a family, and the affections we feel, are unreal: thou hast filled this delusive lifo with empty forms.
47. A feast given without kindness is a mere waste of flour-cakes: worship devoid of piety is a waste of the sprouts used in sacrifice; and gifts devoid of charity are a mero waste of gold.
48. Imagining that by acquiring sons he will attain the happiness that is the reward of merit, a man remains entangled in the creed of works. If an elephant fall into a pit, bow cm a gnat extricate it?
49. Covetousness is a sin of the worst nature: through lust have not hermits been deladed ? he who hath viewed and relinquished all; this is the pure spirit.
50. If you catch a monkey and dress it in a new robe, the hill-apes will all worship it. Thus are the luckless subject to the senseless.
51. Though you anoint an ass with perfames, it feels not your fondness, but will turn again and kick you : and equally fruitless is the love shown to a young girl.
62. Though you pour milk and sugar over bramblo berries, and boil them, they will acquire no flavour; how then can good qualities be produced in the crooked heart by any kindness?
53. When we behold. bright-eyed girl or gaze on gold, overy one's mind is seize.l with wavering thoughts; how then can the power of truth be felt by men ?
54. What has a cripple to do with bracelets ? Of what advantage are wooden teeth to the hare-lipped? Will an ass be the better for assuming a beard and whiskers ? Mere pretensions are wholly fruitless.
55. Singularly fanciful is the talisman of Capid to behold, Tho spot in the forehead of the rosy nymph; at the glance of her waist is the heart agitated.
56. If misfortune befal him, the sinner reviles the deity: if he meets with good, he lauds himself for it: but evil and good are the results of his own acts.
57. To say " Sudraism has left , I am no Sudra, I am a Brahman," is all folly; though brass resemble gold, can it be esteemed its equal ?
58. All men, be they who they will, desire gold and fine women. Not the mightiest of lords carr telinqnish a fair-eyed maiden.
59. To associate with a slat is sain upon rain ; he who has to do with a whore loses all shame; and joining with an adulteress is the source of utter death.
60. A lucky woman perceives the hunger and thirst of others; she helps them to food and satisfies them, but your unlucky senseless wife considers no one's hunger but her own.