[neeti-44]
लोभश्चेदगुणेन किं पिशुनता यद्यस्ति किं पातकैःसत्यं चेत्तपसा च किं शुचि मनो यद्यस्ति तीर्थेन किम् ।सौजन्यं यदि किं गुणैः सुमहिमा यद्यस्ति किं मण्डनैःसद्विद्या यदि किं धनैरपयशो यद्यस्ति किं मृत्युना ॥४४॥lobhaścedaguṇena kiṃ piśunatā yadyasti kiṃ pātakaiḥsatyaṃ cettapasā ca kiṃ śuci mano yadyasti tīrthena kim |saujanyaṃ yadi kiṃ guṇaiḥ sumahimā yadyasti kiṃ maṇḍanaiḥsadvidyā yadi kiṃ dhanairapayaśo yadyasti kiṃ mṛtyunā ||44||
Translation
(FAME ILL-GOTTEN IS DEATH)
If one is greedy, what need is there for other vices? If one is malicious, what need for other sins? If one is truthful, what need for penance? If the mind is pure, what need for pilgrimages? If one is kind, what need for other virtues? If one has true greatness, what need for ornaments? If one possesses noble learning, what need for wealth? And if one has lost one’s reputation, what need for death? ॥ 44 ॥