[neeti-77]
वरं शृङ्गोत्सङ्गाद्गुरुशिखरिणः क्वापि विषमेपतित्वायं कायः कठिनदृषदन्ते विगलितः ।वरं न्यस्तो हस्तः फणिपतिमुखे तीक्ष्णदशनेवरं वह्नौ पातस्तदपि न कृतः शीलविलयः ॥७७॥varaṃ śṛṅgotsaṅgādguruśikhariṇaḥ kvāpi viṣamepatitvāyaṃ kāyaḥ kaṭhinadṛṣadante vigalitaḥ |varaṃ nyasto hastaḥ phaṇipatimukhe tīkṣṇadaśanevaraṃ vahnau pātastadapi na kṛtaḥ śīlavilayaḥ ||77||
Translation
(GOOD CHARACTER)
It is better that this body falls from the topmost point of the tallest mountain into the hard rocky chambers and gets shattered to pieces! It is better that the hand is placed inside the mouth of a snake with sharp fangs! It is even better to fall inside a blazing fire; but never the loss of good character! ॥ 77 ॥