ദേവന്മാർ, സദാചാരമുള്ളവർ, ദ്വിജന്മാർ—all these are pleased by sincerity. Food and drink satisfy others, while the learned find joy in gifts of honor. The wise know that the best must be approached with reverence, the deceitful with division, the lowly with small gifts, and equals with equal strength. Those with wisdom, understanding each person’s unique nature, speak what is beneficial and swiftly bring others under their influence. Yet, one should never trust rivers, creatures with claws or horns, armed men, women, or royal households. It is wise not to reveal loss of wealth, mental distress, misdeeds at home, deception, disgrace, or insults. Association with inferior or wicked people, excessive separation, affection for another’s home, and living with a woman of bad character—these destroy good conduct. Is there any family without fault? Who is untouched by disease? Who has never faced misfortune? Whose prosperity remains unbroken? Who, upon gaining wealth, is not proud? Who has never faced adversity or been disturbed by women? Who is always dear to kings? Who escapes the reach of time? What wealth never loses its dignity? Who, falling into the trap of the wicked, departs safely? Consider the one who has neither friends nor relatives, nor wisdom; whose actions bear no fruit, and who suffers deeply in adversity—how should such a person act? One should avoid a country where there is no honor, affection, relatives, or opportunity for learning. Seek only that wealth which is free from fear of kings and thieves, and which is not lost at death. All that is gained with life-consuming effort will be divided by heirs after death; and whatever evil is done out of greed for wealth becomes the dowry of one afflicted by faults. The miser’s hoarded and hidden wealth, touched again and again, is like a mouse’s store—only a source of suffering. Naked, afflicted by misfortune, harsh, with skull-marked hands—such are shown to the world as examples of those who do not give. The wretched teach and beg, crying ‘Give, give!’—may you never be in the condition of one who does not give. Wealth not used for hundreds of sacrifices or given to the worthy when asked, that wealth guarded by misers is spent in the houses of thieves or kings. The miser’s wealth does not go to the gods, nor to Brahmins, nor to relatives, nor even to himself; it ends up with fire, thieves, or kings. May you never obtain wealth through excessive toil, violation of righteousness, or bowing to an enemy. Learning is lost through lack of practice; for women, it is wearing dirty clothes; for diseases, it is eating stale food; for an enemy, exposure brings downfall. The punishment for a thief is death; for a false friend, few words; for women, sleeping apart; for a Brahmin, not being invited. Wicked people, artisans, slaves, evil drummers, and women—when beaten, they become gentle, but they are not worthy of respect. Servants are known by their tasks, relatives in adversity, friends in times of trouble, and wives when wealth is lost. It is said women have double the appetite, four times the intelligence, six times the energy, and eight times the desire. Sleep cannot be conquered by dreaming, nor a woman by desire; fire is not subdued by fuel, nor thirst by wine. Desire awakens in women through nourishing foods with meat, rich drinks, fragrant perfumes and ointments, delightful garments, and charming garlands. Even in chastity, one must acknowledge the stirrings of passion; when a woman sees an attractive man, her womb is stirred. When women see a well-dressed man, whether brother or son, their wombs are stirred—this is true, truly so, O Shaunaka! Rivers and women share the same nature, independent in their movements; both, through their waters or faults, bring down their banks or families. A river destroys its bank, a woman destroys her family; both move freely and playfully. Fire is never satisfied with wood, the great ocean with the waters of rivers, Death with all beings, nor women with men. There is no satisfaction for the learned, for those who are honored, for those who speak sweetly, for those who seek pleasure, for sons, for life, or for desires. A king is not satisfied by amassing wealth, the ocean not by the waters of rivers, a scholar not by speaking, nor the eye by seeing the king. Those who live by their own righteous duties, who are always devoted to scripture and their wives, who have mastered their senses and honor guests—liberation is found even at home, O best of men. For one whose mind is pleased by beautiful, well-adorned women, who dwells on palace terraces, heaven is attained through virtuous deeds. Not by giving, not by respect, not by honesty, not by age, not by weapons, not by scriptures—women are, in every way, difficult to master. Knowledge is gained gradually, wealth is gathered gradually, a mountain is climbed gradually; likewise, desire and righteousness—these five are attained step by step. Worship of the gods is eternal, giving to Brahmins is eternal, knowledge with virtues is eternal, and a true friend is eternal. Those who, in childhood, do not study, and in youth are poor, lacking wealth and wives—such people are to be pitied, for in this world of the living, they wander as beasts in human form. A student of scripture should not fix his mind on eating or reciting, but should pursue knowledge even to distant lands, swift as Garuda. Those who, in childhood, do not study, and in youth are overcome by desire and lose their wealth—when old, they are scorned and tormented, like a lotus in winter.