A student, a servant, a traveller, a hungry person, a frightened person, a treasury guard, and a doorkeeper; these seven, if asleep, should be awakened.

A snake, a king, a wild beast, a stinging wasp, a child, someone else’s dog, and a fool; these seven, if asleep, should not be awakened.

Having half and incomplete study of the Veda, and having meals fit for a Shudra; that Brahmin what can he do? Without poison a mere snake.

Whose anger does not produce fear, whose satisfaction does not gift wealth, who cannot punish or help, if he is enraged, what can he do?

A poisonless snake should also greatly extend his hood; poison or no poison, the display of the enlarged hood itself is fearsome.

In poverty is patience seated, in a bad garment is appearing good seated, in bad food is heating seated, in ugliness is good manners seated.

One without wealth is not poor, wealthy he is decidedly; but one who is without the jewel of knowledge, is poor in all respects.

If pleasure is desired then study has to be discarded, if study is desired then pleasure has to be discarded; how can the one enjoying pleasures undertake study? Where is the enjoyment of pleasures for the one who studies?

What cannot be seen by poets? What cannot be accomplished by women? What does a drunkard not tell? What does a crow not eat?