Even though a Gatha (poem) be a thousand (of words), but made up of
senseless words, one word of a Gatha is better, which if a man hears, he
becomes quiet.
Though a man recite a hundred Gathas 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 Mara (with Brahman) 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.
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