A History of Sanskrit Literature c8.65

c8.65

*Where clever men their words with wisdom utter,*
*And sift them as with flail the corn is winnowed,*
*There friends may recognise each other’s friendship:*
*A goodly stamp is on their speech imprinted.*

*Whoever his congenial friend abandons,*
*In that man’s speech there is not any blessing.*
*For what he hears he hears without advantage:*
*He has no knowledge of the path of virtue.*

*When Brahman friends unite to offer worship,*
*In hymns by the heart’s impulse swiftly fashioned,*
*Then not a few are left behind in wisdom,*
*While others win their way as gifted Brahmans.*

*The one sits putting forth rich bloom of verses,*
*Another sings a song in skilful numbers,*
*A third as teacher states the laws of being,*
*A fourth metes out the sacrifice’s measure.*