Virtue

Poem : 101

Assistance given by those who ne'er received our aid,
Is debt by gift of heaven and earth but poorly paid.

Explanation :
(The gift of) heaven and earth is not an equivalent for a benefit which is conferred where none had been received.

Poem : 102

A timely benefit, -though thing of little worth,
The gift itself, -in excellence transcends the earth.

Explanation :
A favour conferred in the time of need, though it be small (in itself), is (in value) much larger than the world.

Poem : 103

Kindness shown by those who weigh not what the return may be:
When you ponder right its merit, 'T is vaster than the sea.

Explanation :
If we weigh the excellence of a benefit which is conferred without weighing the return, it is larger than the sea.

Poem : 104

Each benefit to those of actions' fruit who rightly deem,
Though small as millet-seed, as palm-tree vast will seem.

Explanation :
Though the benefit conferred be as small as a millet seed, those who know its advantage will consider it as large as a palmyra fruit.

Poem : 105

The kindly aid's extent is of its worth no measure true;
Its worth is as the worth of him to whom the act you do.

Explanation :
The benefit itself is not the measure of the benefit; the worth of those who have received it is its measure.

Poem : 106

Kindness of men of stainless soul remember evermore!
Forsake thou never friends who were thy stay in sorrow sore!

Explanation :
Forsake not the friendship of those who have been your staff in adversity. Forget not be benevolence of the blameless.

Poem : 107

Through all seven worlds, in seven-fold birth, Remains in mem'ry of the wise.
Friendship of those who wiped on earth, The tears of sorrow from their eyes.

Explanation :
(The wise) will remember throughout their seven-fold births the love of those who have wiped away their affliction.

Poem : 108

'Tis never good to let the thought of good things done thee pass away;
Of things not good, 'tis good to rid thy memory that very day.

Explanation :
It is not good to forget a benefit; it is good to forget an injury even in the very moment (in which it is inflicted).

Poem : 109

Effaced straightway is deadliest injury,
By thought of one kind act in days gone by.

Explanation :
Though one inflict an injury great as murder, it will perish before the thought of one benefit (formerly) conferred.

Poem : 110

Who every good have killed, may yet destruction flee;
Who 'benefit' has killed, that man shall ne'er 'scape free!

Explanation :
He who has killed every virtue may yet escape; there is no escape for him who has killed a benefit.