Verses 610–619

610. The sin committed by a people shall fall on their prince; about half of the good done by the prince shall come to the people. How then is it that the sins of the prince fall not on the people?

611. Would thou you were to look on a cow with affection like the affection with which you view a woman. The man is so much drawn by merit as by pleasure. What can we think of the conduct of a sinner.

612. All the excommunication of a Brahmin departs by the (amrita) products of the cow (panchagavyam). The faults of a servant are removed only by punishment. The impurity (menstrual) of the Lingayath is all removed by mere smearing with ashes.

613. A dog knows its own mind, pleased with it. But a man knows not it his own wishes or nature nor can see them in this iron age.

614. The frauds (lies) of a woman are impenetrable as a wall. A man's fraud is but a grass screen (tatty). The arts of women are ceaseless as the voice of a cricket.

615. He who holds as his own the afflictions that befall others is the man who shall remain and live in the earth. He who knows the next world well is the greatest of the noble in this earth.

616. The stony hearted wretch though be cut his body to pieces, yet will not give a penny; if you wish for a cow at his hands can you get it? It is vain as longing for gold buried under a hill.

617. The born villain, who through friendship (covetousness) that originates in wealth; knows neither himself nor his neighbour, not seeing out of his eyes with all pride; to go and beg of such a fool is all hard indeed.

618. So hard a wretch becomes the possession of the flame. The life (man) void of kindness shall waste away in water; the soul full of cruelty shall be the portion of cruel plunderers.

619. He who the worthless wretch who after daily exciting at hopes last says I cannot give it, his life is like to a radish. At last he loses all power and waits for the favour of others.