Sūta spoke, offering wise counsel to those gathered: “From a distance, one should avoid the company of a bad friend among maidens, a wicked king, a wayward son, a troublesome daughter, and a harmful country. For in this Kali age, righteousness has departed, asceticism is unstable, truth has withdrawn far away, the earth is barren, people are steeped in deceit, Brahmins are driven by greed, mortals are subjugated by passion for women, women themselves are fickle, and the lowly are exalted. Alas, how wretched is life in this age! Fortunate, indeed, are those who have already passed away. Blessed are they who do not witness the ruin of their own land, the destruction of their family, wives devoted to others, or sons fallen into vice. There is no joy in a bad son, nor happiness in a bad wife; no trust in a false friend, nor life in a wicked kingdom. Even Indra’s prosperity would be lost through eating another’s food, coveting another’s wealth, lying in another’s bed, desiring another’s wife, or living in another’s house. Sin, Sūta explained, spreads among men through conversation, bodily contact, association, eating together, sitting, lying down, or traveling together. Women lose their beauty, asceticism is lost through anger, cows by wandering at the gate, and Brahmins by eating food from Shudras. Just as water flows from one pot to another, so too does sin pass by sitting together, sharing a bed, eating together, or mingling in the same row. Indulgence brings many faults, while discipline brings many virtues; thus, a student or a son should be disciplined, not indulged. For those with bodies, aging comes through journeying; for mountains, it is the flow of water; for women, separation brings aging; for clothes, the sunlight. The lowest among people seek quarrel, those in between seek agreement, but the best seek honor, for honor is the true wealth of the great. Honor is the root of all wealth. If one has honor, what need is there for riches? For one who has lost honor and pride, what use is wealth or even life itself? The lowest seek wealth, the middling seek both wealth and honor, but the best seek honor alone. Even in the forest, lions bow to none, nor do they accept what is offered or covet another’s meat; those born in noble families, even if poor, do not resort to base deeds. A lion is not anointed or crowned in the forest, but by its very nature, it becomes king of the beasts. There are those who fail in their duties: a careless merchant, a barber, a proud beggar, a lustful poor man, a beautiful woman, and one who speaks harshly. Five acts are especially evil for a person: being generous but poor, being wealthy yet miserly, having a disobedient son, serving a wicked person, and dying in the midst of good deeds. Separation from a beloved, disgrace from one’s own people, lingering debts, service to a wicked person, and friends who turn away due to poverty—these five burn intensely, even without fire. Among thousands of worries, four are sharp as a razor’s edge: insult from the lowly, hunger, an indifferent wife, and obstruction from one’s own kin. Yet, there are five roots that remove sorrow: an obedient son, wealth, learning, good health, association with the virtuous, and a beloved, compliant wife. The deer, elephant, moth, bee, and fish are each destroyed by one of five things; how, then, can a person who serves all five not be ruined? An impatient, harsh, arrogant, poorly dressed, or self-invited Brahmin—even if equal to Brihaspati—should not be honored. Lifespan, actions, wealth, learning, and death—these five are determined at birth. Excellence is found in climbing mountains, crossing water, tending cattle, restraining the wicked, and raising the fallen. The shadow of a cloud, affection from a wicked person, association with another’s wife, youth, and wealth—these five are unstable, fleeting states. Life itself is unstable, as are wealth, youth, children, wife, and all others; only righteousness, fame, and good reputation endure. Even a hundred years of life is little. Night takes away half, and the rest is lost to disease, sorrow, old age, and fatigue—thus, even that is fruitless. Of a hundred years, half is lost in sleep; of the remainder, much passes in childhood, separation from loved ones, suffering, death, or service to rulers; what is left is as fickle as waves—what pride can be taken in such a life? Day and night, old age moves unseen throughout the world, while death devours beings as a serpent swallows the wind. Whether going or standing, awake or asleep, if one does not act for the good of all beings, his actions are no better than those of a beast. What difference is there between a human who, lacking discernment of right and wrong, is satisfied merely by filling his belly, and a beast? One whose fame is not established in valor, austerity, charity, learning, or wealth is like his mother’s excrement. Only the moments lived by those whose knowledge, courage, and honor remain unbroken are called true life by the wise; even a crow lives long and eats offerings. What is the use of life without wealth or honor? Of a friend who is fearful and suspicious? Live with the resolve of a lion, go forth without despair; even a crow lives long and eats offerings. He who shows no compassion to himself, his teacher, his servants, the poor, or in the affairs of friends—what fruit does his life bear among men? Even a crow lives long and eats offerings. One whose days pass without pursuing the three aims of life—though breathing, he does not truly live, like a blacksmith’s bellows. Success comes from acting independently, not by following others; those whose actions rely on others, though living, are as good as dead. Cowards are always full, like a mouse with a handful of grain; yet, though never satisfied, the coward is pleased even with a little. The shadow of a cloud, fire in dry grass, water by the roadside, the passion of a courtesan, and affection from a wicked person—these are as fleeting as bubbles. The world is not pleased with words lacking substance; life is rooted in honor—when honor fades, how can there be happiness?