Verses 1110–1119

1110. If thou plant a tree carefully but give it no trellis, it will not grow but perish in this world. Thus it is with him who desireth wisdom but can obtain no teacher.

1111. Shall not we cut down the forest of ignorance with the sword of knowledge? Let us not think on ignorance in our mind but look to the places where the light of wisdom is fixed!

1112. Alas none knows intuition (yeriki for everiki). Though thou teach none can understand; by teaching and teaching understanding is produced. Excellent (or divine) is understanding if thou will view it.

1113. Like as the (Parabhruta) cuckoo is reared by the crow, like as the worm comes to life by means of the wasp, thus is it that the fool pretends to be a teacher but cannot bestow perfection (moksha). The nature of the pupil does not depend on the teacher.

1114. If you take a vile fellow and give him wealth he will overthrow even the venerable. Does the dog that gnaws shoes know the sweetness of the sugar cane?

1115. Beasts will not beg of beasts; the race of birds will not submissively ask of their equals. Is he a man who will not bestow when a man asks or is he a woman in the world, O Vema!

1116. What though you have got a putti (1600 lbs) or only a cupful of chaff. There is not in it one grain in the world. Trouble only increases in proportion to the store of empty words. The more talk the more trouble.

1117. By want of food they are in distress. How should the wisdom of such mere corpses become fruitless? If you pour water into an unbaked vessel will it remain there in?

1118. He was born in this land and grew up in this land but cannot bestow this land on any one. Alas the man of a foreign country is the king of the world. (Probably alludes to the Musalman Government.)

1119. Why should all wisdom be published? Why should we receive the gifts of a sinner, O sage, ignorantly.