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Notes
does not appear good. Insipid glorification (fr) of kings, wanting in good deeds, gives no delightful appeal to anybody.
235
The next 150 Gāthās that follow now ( 857-1006) are devoted by the Poet to his interesting observations on life in general.
857. Those who consider wealth (fag) and resulting prosperity as some kind of an ornament () which enhances their value in the eyes of the people and feel that it gives them prestige and prominence over others, are soon spoiled, as their wealth goes on increasing. They become stiff and snobbish. It is like frost (g) which dulls and dims the lustre of the moon, although of the same cooling quality (अणुगुण) as the moon. Cf. तुषारवर्षोऽपि शीतस्पर्श: चन्द्रोऽपि शीतरश्मिः इति विद्यमानेऽप्यानुगुण्ये अभिमानमात्रकृते दूषकत्वं Com. For the idea of a rich man getting snobbish compare : - यस्यास्ति वित्तं स नरः कुलीनः । स पण्डितः स श्रुतिमान् गुणज्ञः । स एव वक्ता स च दर्शनीयः । सर्वे गुणाः काञ्चनमाश्रयन्ते । नीति० ३२.
858. Flattery turns the head of these masters and they begin to get false notions about themselves, although what merits they have is all too well-known to everybody.
859. Kings can command the services of the accomplished persons whom they patronise (I), with a view to acquire these merits and skills in themselves. For a poor man, however, he has to find ways and means to propitiate the meritorious ones and gain their favours through service, before they impart their knowledge to them. Cf. दरिद्राणां पुनः कुतो गुणाः । अन्वेषणीयमार्गत्वात् । मार्गः उपायः गुणिपरिचयः । स दरिद्राणामन्वेषणीयो वर्तते नतु सिद्धोऽस्ति स्वरसतः । गुणिस्वीकारं च सेवया दरिद्राः कुर्युः । Com.
860. The rich man is so eager to look for ideal good behaviour in others, although himself he strays away, committing many a moral lapse.
861. Talking of great men in authority, they do not much care for absolute or perfect moral behaviour (); and they are discrete enough not to investigate into their occasional lapses, if On the other hand, they see to it and are satisfied (funifa), if efforts are made to give a garb of virtue to cover up their faults and failures and thereby shield them.
any.
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862. Pure, pleasing behaviour of a man who is poor and destitute, goes unrecognised and unnoticed ( अगहिअ ) by the
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