Oriental Maxims

Paraphrase of Sanscrit Translations

The Inward Judge
From Institutes of Manu

THE SOUL itself its awful witness is.

Say not in evil doing, “No one sees,”

And so offend the conscious One within,

Whose ear can hear the silences of sin

Ere they find voice, whose eyes unsleeping see

The secret motions of iniquity.

Nor in thy folly say, “I am alone.”

For, seated in thy heart, as on a throne,

The ancient Judge and Witness liveth still,

To note thy act and thought; and as thy ill

Or good goes from thee, far beyond thy reach,

The solemn Doomsman’s seal is set on each.
1878.

Laying up Treasure
From the Mahàbhárata

BEFORE the Ender comes, whose charioteer

Is swift or slow Disease, lay up each year

Thy harvests of well-doing, wealth that kings

Nor thieves can take away. When all the things

Thou callest thine, goods, pleasures, honors fall,

Thou in thy virtue shalt survive them all.
1881.

Conduct
From the Mahàbhárata

HEED how thou livest. Do no act by day

Which from the night shall drive thy peace away.

In months of sun so live that months of rain

Shall still be happy. Evermore restrain

Evil and cherish good, so shall there be

Another and a happier life for thee.
1881.