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## Verse 354
**354**
A criticism or praise made by one who does not know the qualities and defects is merely for laughter, like that of a blind man. ||26||
Or, even if he is ignorant, let him criticize or praise the work. Otherwise, there will be no rest for the witty. ||27||
Great men do not count petty troubles as much as small things. Straw can be burned by fire, but water cannot be heated by it. ||28||
Fire, born of wood, burns wood, but wood increases it. These two, like lamps, illuminate the nature of good and bad. ||29||
Having heard the praise and criticism of the work, let him make a judgment of its qualities and defects. They will make his fame, even if he is not a good maker. ||30||
Like the arrows of the great archer Arjuna, the words are well-aimed. Reaching the ill-cultured Karna, they pierce the heart deeply. ||31||
This work has been created by honoring the great poets of the past. May the present and future poets purify it with their grace. ||32||
My mind only gives birth to this work, like a queen to a daughter. The minds of the great poets, like nurses, will nurture it. ||33||
Wise men will understand this, let not ordinary people understand it. What can poor people buy with their meager wealth? ||34||
Let the best of men, holding the great jewel of Dharma, born from the ocean of Agamas, consider it greater than the Kaustubha gem and keep it in their hearts. ||35||
**Meaning:**
The author humbly requests the reader not to focus on his personal qualities. He believes that focusing on the flaws of the work will make it more appealing to everyone, while focusing on the author's qualities will make it less appealing. Therefore, he encourages the reader to focus on the flaws of the work, as it will be beneficial to the reader.
The verses use various metaphors and similes to illustrate the author's point. He compares the work to a lamp that illuminates the nature of good and bad, and the author's words to the arrows of Arjuna that pierce the heart of the ill-cultured. He also compares the work to a jewel that is more valuable than the Kaustubha gem.
The author concludes by emphasizing that the work is meant for wise men and not for ordinary people. He believes that only those who have attained a certain level of understanding will be able to appreciate the true value of the work.