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168

The streams of rivers flow on and return not; so day and night take with them the life of mortals.

As a man extracts gold from stones, let him also receive what is valuable from all quarters—from a raving mad-man or a chattering fool.

For a man of energy Meru is not too high to be ascended, nor the ocean too extensive to be crossed.

Show compassion to all: the moon withholds not its light from the house of a Châṇḍâla.

There should be no companionship with a wicked man: charcoal, when hot, burns; when cold, it blackens the hand.

Companionship with the bad is easily severed; the good, like vessels of gold, are hard to break and easily united.

Better a forest haunted by tigers and elephants, trees for shelter, ripe fruits and water for food, grass for a bed, bark for clothing, but not deprived of wealth living among relatives.