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manent with wicked persons but what is highly sorrowful is that wealth ignores even excellent individuals.
Besides, the insolent and indifferent wealth does not even care for noble birth, beauty, strength, superior knowledge, or for valour.
How can good conduct be expected from the overwhelining influence of the wealth which has acquired fickleness by its asso). ciation with the waves of the occan, which has got adamantine power by being produced along with regulator Kaustubha Maņi (a jewel produced at the churning of the ocean; an ornament of Visņu), which has acquircil dirty habits ly contact with the *** Kalanka, Blemish, of the Moon with whom she lived, which has left off polite manners by asgnciation with the celestial horse, which is a source of misery like the close contact with a dangerous poison, which has got deceitful feelings by attachment for a conch-shell, and which has left off sweetness by constantly living in the salty ocean?
Because, any one associating himself with unlike companions is not able to accomplieh the superior attributes. Therefore, O worthy man! Leave aside your grief, carry on human effort and engage yourself in some useful undertaking. Wise men do not at all conceal anything after realizing the true nature of things. Besides, “O worthy man! Are you the only man deserted by wealth that you are so niuch distressed and you are at present witholding yourself from any useful undertaking ?."
I said " Master : What should I do now? "
He replied “O illustrious man! Now you should always keep yourselt with religious observances in every way, because even immense wealth of persons disinclined to religious practices goes to destruction, while those who are very careful in religious observances readily acquire prosperity even if they are destitute of wealth."
On hearing this precept and becoming indifferent to worldly
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