Patience, better than armour, guards from harm.
And why seek enemies, if you have anger ?
With friends, you need no medicine for danger.
With kinsmen, why ask fire to keep you warm?
What use are snakes when slander sharper stings?
What use is wealth where wisdom brings content?
With modesty, what need for ornament?
With poetry's Muse, why should we envy kings?
Bhartrhari
Translated from the Sanskrit by John Brough
