2.4.1. Nobility
951 Save in the scions of a noble house, you never find Instinctive sense of right and virtuous shame combined. Consistency (of thought, word and deed) and fear (of sin) are conjointly natural only to the high-born.
952 In these three things the men of noble birth fail not: In virtuous deed and truthful word, and chastened thought. The high-born will never deviate from these three; good manners, truthfulness and modesty.
953 The smile, the gift, the pleasant word, unfailing courtesy These are the signs, they say, of true nobility. A cheerful countenance, liberality, pleasant words, and an unreviling disposition, these four are said to be the proper qualities of the truly high-born.
954 Millions on millions piled would never win The men of noble race to soul-degrading sin. Though blessed with immense wealth, the noble will never do anything unbecoming.
955 Though stores for charity should fail within, the ancient race Will never lose its old ancestral grace. Though their means fall off, those born in ancient families, will not lose their character (for liberality).
956 Whose minds are set to live as fits their sire’s unspotted fame, Stooping to low deceit, commit no deeds that gender shame. Those who seek to preserve the irreproachable honour of their families will not viciously do what is detrimental thereto.
957 The faults of men of noble race are seen by every eye, 116 As spots on her bright orb that walks sublime the evening sky. The defects of the noble will be observed as clearly as the dark spots in the moon.
958 If lack of love appear in those who bear some goodly name, ‘Twill make men doubt the ancestry they claim. If one of a good family betrays want of affection, his descent from it will be called in question.
959 Of soil the plants that spring thereout will show the worth: The words they speak declare the men of noble birth. As the sprout indicates the nature of the soil, (so) the speech of the noble indicates (that of one’s birth).
960 Who seek for good the grace of virtuous shame must know; Who seek for noble name to all must reverence show. He who desires a good name must desire modesty; and he who desires (the continuance of) a family greatness must be submissive to all.
2.4.2. Honour
961 Though linked to splendours man no otherwise may gain, Reject each act that may thine honour’s clearness stain. Actions that would degrade (one’s) family should not be done; though they may be so important that not doing them would end in death.
962 Who seek with glory to combine honour’s untarnished fame, Do no inglorious deeds, though men accord them glory’s name. Those who desire (to maintain their) honour, will surely do nothing dishonourable, even for the sake of fame.
963 Bow down thy soul, with increase blest, in happy hour; Lift up thy heart, when stript of all by fortune’s power. In great prosperity humility is becoming; dignity, in great adversity.
964 Like hairs from off the head that fall to earth, When fall’n from high estate are men of noble birth. They who have fallen from their (high) position are like the hair which has fallen from the head.
965 If meanness, slight as ‘abrus’ grain, by men be wrought, Though like a hill their high estate, they sink to nought. Even those who are exalted like a hill will be thought low, if they commit deeds that are debasing.
966 It yields no praise, nor to the land of Gods throws wide the gate: 117 Why follow men who scorn, and at their bidding wait? Of what good is it (for the high-born) to go and stand in vain before those who revile him ? it only brings him loss of honour and exclusion from heaven.
967 Better ’twere said, ‘He’s perished!’ than to gain The means to live, following in foeman’s train. It is better for a man to be said of him that he died in his usual state than that he eked out his life by following those who disgraced him.
968 When high estate has lost its pride of honour meet, Is life, that nurses this poor flesh, as nectar sweet? For the high-born to keep their body in life when their honour is gone will certainly not prove a remedy against death.
969 Like the wild ox that, of its tuft bereft, will pine away, Are those who, of their honour shorn, will quit the light of day. Those who give up (their) life when (their) honour is at stake are like the yark which kills itself at the loss of (even one of) its hairs.
970 Who, when dishonour comes, refuse to live, their honoured memory Will live in worship and applause of all the world for aye! The world will (always) praise and adore the fame of the honourable who would rather die than suffer indignity.
2.4.3. Greatness
971 The light of life is mental energy; disgrace is his Who says, ‘I ‘ill lead a happy life devoid of this.’ One’s light is the abundance of one’s courage; one’s darkness is the desire to live destitute of such (a state of mind.)
972 All men that live are one in circumstances of birth; Diversities of works give each his special worth. All human beings agree as regards their birth but differ as regards their characteristics, because of the different qualities of their actions.
973 The men of lofty line, whose souls are mean, are never great The men of lowly birth, when high of soul, are not of low estate. Though (raised) above, the base cannot become great; though (brought) low, the great cannot become base.
974 Like single-hearted women, greatness too, 118 Exists while to itself is true. Even greatness, like a woman’s chastity, belongs only to him who guards himself.
975 The man endowed with greatness true, Rare deeds in perfect wise will do. (Though reduced) the great will be able to perform, in the proper way, deeds difficult (for others to do).
976 ‘As votaries of the truly great we will ourselves enroll,’ Is thought that enters not the mind of men of little soul. It is never in the nature of the base to seek the society of the great and partake of their nature.
977 Whene’er distinction lights on some unworthy head, Then deeds of haughty insolence are bred. Even nobility of birth, wealth and learning, if in (the possession of) the base, will (only) produce everincreasing pride.
978 Greatness humbly bends, but littleness always Spreads out its plumes, and loads itself with praise. The great will always humble himself; but the mean will exalt himself in self-admiration.
979 Greatness is absence of conceit; meanness, we deem, Riding on car of vanity supreme. Freedom from conceit is (the nature of true) greatness; (while) obstinacy therein is (that of) meanness.
980 Greatness will hide a neighbour’s shame; Meanness his faults to all the world proclaim. The great hide the faults of others; the base only divulge them.
2.4.4. Perfectness
981 All goodly things are duties to the men, they say Who set themselves to walk in virtue’s perfect way. It is said that those who are conscious of their duty and behave with a perfect goodness will regard as natural all that is good.
982 The good of inward excellence they claim, The perfect men; all other good is only good in name. The only delight of the perfect is that of their goodness; all other (sensual) delights are not to be included among any (true) delights. 119
983 Love, modesty, beneficence, benignant grace, With truth, are pillars five of perfect virtue’s resting-place. Affection, fear (of sin), benevolence, favour and truthfulness; these are the five pillars on which perfect goodness rests.
984 The type of ‘penitence’ is virtuous good that nothing slays; To speak no ill of other men is perfect virtue’s praise. Penance consists in the goodness that kills not , and perfection in the goodness that tells not others’ faults.
985 Submission is the might of men of mighty acts; the sage With that same weapon stills his foeman’s rage. Stooping (to inferiors) is the strength of those who can accomplish (an undertaking); and that is the weapon with which the great avert their foes.
986 What is perfection’s test? The equal mind. To bear repulse from even meaner men resigned. The touch-stone of perfection is to receive a defeat even at the hands of one’s inferiors.
987 What fruit doth your perfection yield you, say! Unless to men who work you ill good repay? Of what avail is perfect goodness if it cannot do pleasing things even to those who have pained (it) ?
988 To soul with perfect virtue’s strength endued, Brings no disgrace the lack of every earthly good. Poverty is no disgrace to one who abounds in good qualities.
989 Call them of perfect virtue’s sea the shore, Who, though the fates should fail, fail not for evermore. Those who are said to be the shore of the sea of perfection will never change, though ages may change.
990 The mighty earth its burthen to sustain must cease, If perfect virtue of the perfect men decrease. If there is a defect in the character of the perfect, (even) the great world cannot bear (its) burden.