THE THOUSANDS
Even though a speech be a thousand (of words), but made up of senseless
words, one word of sense is better, which if a man hears, he becomes
quiet.
Even though a Gâthâ (poem) be a thousand (of words), but made up of
senseless words, one word of a Gâthâ is better, which if a man hears, he
becomes quiet.
Though a man recite a hundred Gâthâs made up of senseless words, one
word of the law is better, which if a man hears, he becomes quiet.
If one man conquer in battle a thousand times a thousand men, and if
another conquer himself, he is the greatest of conquerors.
One's own self conquered is better than all other people; not even a
god, a Gandharva, not Mâra (with Brâhman) could change into defeat the
victory of a man who has vanquished himself, and always lives under
restraint.
If a man for a hundred years sacrifice month by month with a thousand,
and if he but for one moment pay homage to a man whose soul is grounded
in true knowledge, better is that homage than a sacrifice for a hundred
years.
If a man for a hundred years worship Agni (fire) in the forest, and if
he but for one moment pay homage to a man whose soul is grounded in true
knowledge, better is that homage than sacrifice for a hundred years.
Whatever a man sacrifice in this world as an offering or as an oblation
for a whole year in order to gain merit, the whole of it is not worth a
quarter a farthing; reverence shown to the righteous is better.
He who always greets and constantly reveres the aged, four things will
increase to him: life, beauty, happiness, power.
But he who lives a hundred years, vicious and unrestrained, a life of
one day is better if a man is virtuous and reflecting.
And he who lives a hundred years, ignorant and unrestrained, a life of
one day is better if a man is wise and reflecting.
And he who lives a hundred years, idle and weak, a life of one day is
better if a man has attained firm strength.
And he who lives a hundred years, not seeing beginning and end, a life
of one day is better if a man sees beginning and end.
And he who lives a hundred years, not seeing the immortal place, a life
of one day is better if a man sees the immortal place.
And he who lives a hundred years, not seeing the highest law, a life of
one day is better if a man sees the highest law.