Indian Antiquary Vol 12

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 34

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY, 1883.
ignorance men commit sin, through fear men commit sin. But inasmuch as the holy dis- ciple lives uninfluenced by partiality or wrath or folly or fear, therefore these four evil states tempt him not to sin. Whoso from partiality, wrath, folly, or fear is tempted to pervert
justice, his glory shall fade like the waning moon. But whoso, untempted by these, re
frains from perverting justice, his glory shall be made fall, like the glory of the increasing moon.
And what are the six means of dissipating wealth? Strong drink, young man, and theatre-going, and evil companions, and dicing, and wandering about the streets at night, and idleness-these six bring a man to poverty.
There are six evils, young man, in being ad- dicted to strong drink,--poverty, strife, disease, 1088 of character, shameless exposure of the person, and impaired faculties.
Six evils attend on him who wanders about the streets at night. His life is in danger, his wife and ehildren are uncared for, his property is unguarded, he falls under the suspicion of frequenting places of evil resort, false rumours circulate conceruing him, and sorrow and remorse follow in his train.
Six evils wait upon him who thirsts after worldly amusements. He is ever crying, Where is there dancing ? where is there singing P where is there music? where recitation ? where conjuring ? where public shows ?
Six evils wait upon the gambler. If he win, he begets hatred ; if he lose, his heart is sor- rowful. His substance is wasted, his word has no weight in a court of justice, his friends and his kinsmen despise him, and he is looked upon as ineligible for marriage - for men say, A gambler is unfit to support a wife.
Six evils attend on him who associates with bad companions. Every gambler, every liber. tine, every cheat, every rogue, every outlaw is his friend and companion. Six evils attend upon the sluggard. He says it is too cold, and does not work; he says it is too hot, and does not work; he says it is too early, and does not work; he says it is too late, and does not work; he says, I am hungry, and does not work; he says, I am full, and does not work; and while he thus lives, ever neglecting his duties, he both fails to acquire new property, and that which he possesses dwindles away. Some friends are
only boon companions, some are hollow friends ; the true friend is the friend in need.
Sleeping after the sun has risen, adultery, revenge, malevolence, evil communications, and avarice--these six things bring a man to ruin.
He who has sinful friends and sinful companions, who is devoted to sinful practices, the
same is ruined in this world and the next. | Gambling, debauchery, dancing and singing,
sleeping by day and wandering about at night, bad companions, and avarice--these six things bring a man to ruin.
Woe to the dicers, to them that drink strong drink, that go in unto their neighbour's wife : whoso follows wickedness and honours not the wise, he shall fade like the waning moon. He that drinks strong drink is needy and destitute, ever thirsting with unquenchable thirst, he plunges into debt as one plunges into water, and will quickly bring his family to nothing; he who sleeps by day and rises at night, who is ever full of wine and whoredoms, is unfit to maintain a family.
Poverty overtakes him who says, 'Tis too cold, 'tis too hot, 'tis too late, and neglects his work; but he who, performing his duties, recks not a straw for heat or cold, his happiness shall not decay.
There are four, young man, who, seeming to be friends, are enemies in disguise--the rapacious friend, the man of much profession, the flatterer, and the dissolute companion.
In four ways the rapacious man may be known to be a false friend :-He enriches himself at your expense ; he expects much in return for little; he does what is right only under the impulse of fear; and he serves you from selfinterested motives.
In four ways the man of much profession may be known to be a false friend :-He boasts of what he meant to do for you ; he boasts of what he means to do for you; he is profase in anprofitable compliments, but in the hour of need he protests his inability to serve you.
In four ways the flatterer may be known to be a false friend :-He assents when you do wrong; he assents when you do right;: he praises you to your face; and speaks ill of you behind your back.
In four ways the dissolute companion may be known to be a false friend :-He is your friend if you follow after strong drink, if you