Several months have passed since I published anything on the venerable Bhartruhari. In this installment, I present one of my all-time favourites from Neeti Shataka.

Nindantu neeti nipunah yadi vaa stunvantu |

Lakshmiih samaavishatu gacchatu vaa yatheshtam ||

Adya eva vaa maranam astu yugaantare vaa |

Nyayaat pathah pravichalanti padam na dhiraah ||

Unmindful of the praise or the upbraid of

Scholars learned in morals, ethics, and conduct;

Unheeding of the ingress or exodus of

Goddess Lakshmi (wealth), Her will;

Undaunted of Death come today or

Perchance eons later,

He that treads the trail of Truth

Falters aught a foot.