1. The sage asked the spirit of wisdom (2) thus: ‘What are the vices of priests? 3. What are the vices of warriors? 4. What are the vices of husbandmen? 5. And what are the vices of artizans [1]?’
6. The spirit of wisdom answered (7) thus: 'The vices of priests are heresy, covetousness, negligence, [ p. 106 ] trafficking (sûdakîh) [2], attention to trifles, and unbelief in the religion.
8. 'The vices of warriors are oppression, violence, promise-breaking, unmercifulness (an-avôkhshâgâ-vandîh), ostentation (dakhshîh) [3], haughtiness, and arrogance.
9. 'The vices of husbandmen are ignorance, enviousness, ill-will, and maliciousness.
10. ‘And the vices of artizans are unbelief, want of thanksgiving, improper muttering of prayers, moroseness, and abusiveness.’
(105:4) Literally ‘the well-endeavouring,’ the lowest of the four classes of the community here mentioned (see also Chaps. XXXI, X, XII). ↩︎
(106:1) Or, perhaps, ‘usuriousness.’ The Sanskrit version has ‘laziness,’ as if Nêr. had read âsûdakîh. ↩︎
(106:2) Nêr. has read gahî, and translated ‘incontinence.’ ↩︎