Greed Humbles the Wise, and Power Makes the Powerful Deaf
Uttara Kanda, Doha 71
Doha 71 · Movement 2 of 2
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Bhushundi widens the catalog. The wise, ascetics, heroes, poets, scholars, and treasuries of virtue all move within the world where greed lays its snares. Learning and discipline do not automatically prevent humiliation before desire for more.
Prosperity bends the bearing through pride. Authority makes the powerful deaf, unable to hear correction, suffering, or truth beyond their own command. The arrowlike glance of beauty can strike even one who imagined himself beyond attraction.
These questions are offered as mirrors, not as cynical accusations against human possibility. Every attainment has a shadow through which maya may enter if vigilance becomes self-congratulation. Wisdom can become identity, austerity can become rank, courage can become vanity, and wealth can curve the spine of discernment. Bhushundi brings the greatest and the ordinary under one merciful warning so no listener mistakes spiritual progress for immunity.
The higher the visible attainment rises, the more quietly pride may close the ears that once listened for truth.
Read the passage from the Manas
ग्यानी तापस सूर कबि कोबिद गुन आगार। केहि कै लौभ बिडंबना कीन्हि न एहिं संसार।।70(क)।। श्री मद बक्र न कीन्ह केहि प्रभुता बधिर न काहि। मृगलोचनि के नैन सर को अस लाग न जाहि।।70(ख)।।
The wise, the ascetics, the heroes, the poets, the learned, the virtuous: whom has lobha not humiliated in this world? Whom has shri (prosperity) not made crooked with pride? Whom has prabhuta (power) not made deaf? The arrow-like glances of the mrigalochani (doe-eyed woman): who is there whom they have not struck?