Pity rather the Brahman who is ignorant of the Vedas, and who has abandoned his religious duty and is engrossed in the pleasures of sense; pity the king who understands not statecraft and who loves not his people as he loves his life.

Pity the Vaishya who is rich but niggardly and who is unpractised in hospitality or in devotion to Shiva. Grieve for the Shudra who insults the Brahmans, who is garrulous, ambitious for honour and proud of his knowledge.

Grieve, too, for the woman who deceives her husband, is crooked and quarrelsome and self-willed. Grieve for the religious student who breaks his vows and obeys not his guru’s commands

Grieve for the householder who, overcome by delusion, forsakes the path of duty; and grieve for the recluse who is devoted to this world of seeming and lacks discretion and dispassion.

Pity the anchorite who has given up penance and developed a liking for luxuries; pity the backbiter who is angry without cause and at enmity with his own parents, preceptor and kin.

Pitiable in every way is he who injures others, who cherishes his own body and is utterly heartless. And pitiable above all is he who does not eschew guile and become a follower of Hari.

But the lord of Kosala is not to be pitied, for his mighty power is manifest through all the fourteen spheres. There never was, O Bharata, nor is, nor shall be hereafter such a monarch as your father.