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30. SECTION ON THE CLEVBR (SHREWD)
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to achieve something (i. e. those whom they want to use as tools in achieving their self-interest) and those with whom they are not likely to have anything to do even once in hundreds of thousands of lives.
276) Shrewd (cunning) people speak in a wonderful way, with pleasing accents divorced from sincerity, in such a manner that they are in this world carried by other people on their heads (i. e. are honoured and idolised), being (mis-)taken as (real and sincere) freinds.
277) Who, tell me, can ever deceive (outwit) those traders in the form of shrewd (cunning) people, who with the balance of their eyes, weigh the world placed in the pan (bowl) of their mind ?
278) In all the three worlds that thing does not exist now, nor has it existed before, nor will it come into existence in future, nor has it been fashioned by the Creator—which is not known by the clever (wise).
279) Just as they do not utter harsh (unpleasant) things on the first day (of their friendship or acquaintance), so also they do not at all utter harsh things on the last day (i. e, in the end). Oh, how magnanimous they are : though they may become estranged (mentally) they are difficult to detect.
280) My dear girl, he who comes under the (evil) influence of clever (shrewd) people who are full of numerous tricks and deceits, he, becoming vacant and vacant-minded, does not get any happiness even in a dream.
281) Oh slender-bodied lady, if somehow or other (i e. by some chance) you come within the reach of the clever (shrewd) ones, then you will live a very wretched (miserable life), branded exclusively with the burns of great calamities.
282) Oh daughter, do not talk in a very crooked (witty, subtle) manner in the presence of clever (shrewd) people. For those accursed ones know (fathom) by their intelligence even thoughes deep-laid (concealed) in the hearts (minds) (of others).
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