Gaudavaho

Author(s): Vakpatiraj, Narhari Govind Suru, P L Vaidya, A N Upadhye, H C Bhayani
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 399

Gaüḍavaho
910. Death, even if (jai) angry, does just the opposite (in the life) of great men, who welcome death and (voluntarily) give away all their wealth of their own accord.
102
911. Not only did (these) great men, who used the world as a means (to achieve) greatness, not attain high position of authority, but they could not be instrumental even (for others to achieve such position), because of the fault of the present (Kali) Age.
912. I believe it to be the shadow of the Krta age immediately following (The present Kali age); since something, pure and chaste, does flash (occasionally), inspite of the overpowering influence of this Kali age.
913. What concern have we with those houses where a man just enters in all zest and haste, only (to find in them) his hopes shattered? Those houses alone are ( commendable), out of which a man comes out filled with great satisfaction.
914. He gives up nobility (of heart) and abandons courtesy and sympathy. Even the earth, shrinking and drawing away from some such people, is polluted by the touch of their sins.
915. When a thing, quite easy for even an ordinary man (to get), has no chance of materialising (sampada) in the case of great men, they just smile to themselves inwardly and secretly and sit still in surprise.
916. Great men (magnify when they) show to the good men the gifts they received, (telling them that) they have far exceeded their expectation, like the reflection of great (precious) gems seen through a layer (viņivesa) of wax (maana).
917. Bad men delight in the company of low people, although good men are at their disposal (sāhīņa). It is a frivolous freak (līlā) (whim) of those, for whom jewels are easy to have, to wear glass beads.
918. How can Poverty assail great men who go on investing at every place (or worthy person)? The miser's wealth, however, (remains) all alone (uninvested) by itself; and when once gone away (lock, stock and barrel), all its roots (traces) are wiped away (obliterated).
919. For misers praising (ahisalāhamāņa ) merits of munificence in others, there is no enthusiasm in themselves for doing