A person divested of
everything sleepeth in happiness, and awaketh in happiness. Complete
poverty, in this world, is happiness. It is a good regimen, it is the
source of 'blessings, it is freedom from danger. This foeless path is
unattainable (by persons cherishing desire) and is easily attainable (by
those that are freed from desire). Casting my eyes on every part of the
three worlds, I do not behold the person who is equal to a poor man of
pure conduct and without attachment (to worldly things). I weighed
poverty and sovereignty in a balance. Poverty weighed heavier than
sovereignty and seemed to possess greater merits. Between poverty and
sovereignty there is this great distinction, viz., that the sovereign,
possessed of affluence, is always agitated by anxiety and seems to be
within the very jaws of death. As regards, however, the poor man, who in
consequence of the divestment of all wealth has freed himself from hopes
and emancipated himself, neither fire, nor foe, nor death, nor robbers,
can get the better of him. The very gods applaud such a man who wanders
about according to his sweet will, who lies down on the bare ground with
his arm for a pillow, and who is possessed of tranquillity. Affected by
wrath and cupidity, the man of affluence is stained by a wicked heart. He
casts oblique glances and makes dry speeches.--He becomes sinful, and his
face is always darkened with frowns. Biting his lips, and excited with
wrath, he utters harsh and cruel words.
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