Though needed for your life in main
From mean degrading acts refrain
Who seek honour and manly fame
Don't do mean deeds even for name.
Be humble in prosperity
In decline uphold dignity.
Like hair fallen from head are those
Who fall down from their high status.
Even hill-like men will sink to nought
With abrus-grain-like small default.
Why fawn on men that scorn you here
It yields no fame, heaven's bliss neither.
Better it is to die forlorn
Than live as slaves of those who scorn.
Is nursing body nectar sweet
Even when one's honour is lost?
Honour lost, the noble expire
Like a yak that loses its hair.
Their light the world adores and hails
Who will not live when honour fails.
HONOUR
