62. Desire for the companionship of the good, love for the virtues of others, reverence for spiritual teachers, diligence in acquiring wisdom, love for their own wives, fear of the world’s blame, reverence for Śiva, self-restraint, freedom from the acquaintance with evil men–wherever men dwell endowed with virtues like these, they are always reverenced.
63. Firmness in adversity, restraint in prosperity, eloquence in the assembly, boldness in war, the desire of glory, study in the Scriptures–these are the natural characteristics of the virtuous.
64. Secret generosity, cheerful hospitality to strangers, not speaking in public about one’s own good deeds, proclaiming the benefits received from others, freedom from pride in prosperity, due respect in speaking of others–this is the vow of exceeding difficulty, taught by the good.
65. Liberality is the fitting virtue for the hand, reverence towards spiritual teachers for the head, true speech for the mouth, surpassing power for the arms of a mighty man, content for the heart, the holy Veda rightly understood for the ears; the man of noble mind who is the possessor of these adornments has no need of outward pomp.
66. The heart of the wise is soft as a lotus flower in prosperity, but in adversity it is as firm as a mountain rock.
67. Water will not remain on hot iron, but standing on a lotus leaf it shines with the beauty of a pearl; and if a drop of water fall under a favourable star into the middle of an oyster in the sea, it straightway becomes a pearl. So is the disposition of men, good, tolerable, or bad, according to the society in which they live.
69. Those who are ennobled by humility: those who display their own virtues by relating the virtues of other men : those who in their own business always consider the interests of others: those who hate the evil speaker, and the mouth that continually utters harsh and impatient words :–good men whose admirable behaviour is shown in virtues like these are always held in reverence. Who would not respect them?
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