Wealth

Poem : 841

Want of knowledge, 'mid all wants the sorest want we deem;
Want of other things the world will not as want esteem.

Explanation :
The want of wisdom is the greatest of all wants; but that of wealth the world will not regard as such.

Poem : 842

The gift of foolish man, with willing heart bestowed, is nought,
But blessing by receiver's penance bought.

Explanation :
(The cause of) a fool cheerfully giving (something) is nothing else but the receiver's merit (in a former birth).

Poem : 843

With keener anguish foolish men their own hearts wring,
Than aught that even malice of their foes can bring.

Explanation :
The suffering that fools inflict upon themselves is hardly possible even to foes.

Poem : 844

What is stupidity? The arrogance that cries,
'Behold, we claim the glory of the wise.'

Explanation :
What is called want of wisdom is the vanity which says, "We are wise".

Poem : 845

If men what they have never learned assume to know,
Upon their real learning's power a doubt 'twill throw.

Explanation :
Fools pretending to know what has not been read (by them) will rouse suspicion even as to what they have thoroughly mastered.

Poem : 846

Fools are they who their nakedness conceal,
And yet their faults unveiled reveal.

Explanation :
Even to cover one's nakedness would be folly, if (one's) faults were not covered (by forsaking them).

Poem : 847

From out his soul who lets the mystic teachings die,
Entails upon himself abiding misery.

Explanation :
The fool who neglects precious counsel does, of his own accord, a great injury to himself.

Poem : 848

Advised, he heeds not; of himself knows nothing wise;
This man's whole life is all one plague until he dies.

Explanation :
The fool will not perform (his duties) even when advised nor ascertain them himself; such a soul is a burden (to the earth) till it departs (from the body).

Poem : 849

That man is blind to eyes that will not see who knowledge shows;
The blind man still in his blind fashion knows.

Explanation :
One who would teach a fool will (simply) betray his folly; and the fool would (still) think himself "wise in his own conceit".

Poem : 850

Who what the world affirms as false proclaim,
O'er all the earth receive a demon's name.

Explanation :
He who denies the existence of what the world believes in will be regarded as a demon on earth.