Virtue

Poem : 31

It yields distinction, yields prosperity; what gain
Greater than virtue can a living man obtain?

Explanation :
Virtue will confer heaven and wealth; what greater source of happiness can man possess ?

Poem : 32

No greater gain than virtue aught can cause;
No greater loss than life oblivious of her laws.

Explanation :
There can be no greater source of good than (the practice of) virtue; there can be no greater source of evil than the forgetfulness of it.

Poem : 33

To finish virtue's work with ceaseless effort strive,
What way thou may'st, where'er thou see'st the work may thrive.

Explanation :
As much as possible, in every way, incessantly practise virtue.

Poem : 34

Spotless be thou in mind! This only merits virtue's name;
All else, mere pomp of idle sound, no real worth can claim.

Explanation :
Let him who does virtuous deeds be of spotless mind; to that extent is virtue; all else is vain show.

Poem : 35

'Tis virtue when, his footsteps sliding not through envy, wrath,
Lust, evil speech-these four, man onwards moves in ordered path.

Explanation :
That conduct is virtue which is free from these four things, viz, malice, desire, anger and bitter speech.

Poem : 36

Do deeds of virtue now. Say not, 'To-morrow we'll be wise';
Thus, when thou diest, shalt thou find a help that never dies.

Explanation :
Defer not virtue to another day; receive her now; and at the dying hour she will be your undying friend.

Poem : 37

Needs not in words to dwell on virtue's fruits: compare
The man in litter borne with them that toiling bear!

Explanation :
The fruit of virtue need not be described in books; it may be inferred from seeing the bearer of a palanquin and the rider therein.

Poem : 38

If no day passing idly, good to do each day you toil,
A stone it will be to block the way of future days of moil.

Explanation :
If one allows no day to pass without some good being done, his conduct will be a stone to block up the passage to other births.

Poem : 39

What from virtue floweth, yieldeth dear delight;
All else extern, is void of glory's light.

Explanation :
Only that pleasure which flows from domestic virtue is pleasure; all else is not pleasure, and it is without praise.

Poem : 40

'Virtue' sums the things that should be done;
'Vice' sums the things that man should shun.

Explanation :
That is virtue which each ought to do, and that is vice which each should shun.