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This quote is from poet Dandee of Dash Kumaar Charitam fame -
"How can a person, without the knowledge of Shaastra, reach a decision as to what is good and what is bad. How can a blind person be able to have authoritative views about the beauty of objects.

Some very Good and Very bad things ..

The most destructive habit....... ........ ...... Worry
The greatest joy......... ......... ......... ..........  Giving
The greatest loss........ ......... ........ ........ ...  Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work........ . ....... .... .. Helping others
The ugliest personality trait....... ....... .... Selfishness
The most endangered species..... .... ........ Dedicated leaders
Our greatest natural resource.... ...........  Our youth

The greatest 'shot in the arm'........ ........    Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome.... ......... Fear
The most effective sleeping pill...... ..........   Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease..... . ......  Excuses

The most powerful force in life........ ........... Love
The most dangerous act...... ......... .......... .....  A gossip
The world's most incredible computer.......  The brain
The worst thing to be without..... ......... .....   Hope

The deadliest weapon...... ........ ........ .........   The tongue
The two most power-filled words....... ....    'I Can'
The greatest asset....... .......... ......... ........ ..   Faith
The most worthless emotion.... .......... .........  Self- pity

The most beautiful attire...... ......... ...........  SMILE
The most prized possession.. ........ ..........   Integrity
The most powerful channel of communication. ..Prayer
The most contagious spirit...... ......... ......    Enthusiasm

Life ends; when you stop Dreaming,
Hope ends; when you stop Believing,
Love ends; when you stop Caring,
And Friendship ends; when you stop Sharing...!!

If one can explain about his own woes and sufferings to
(1) A friend who is always having undeterred love for him,
(2) a faithful servant who is of good character
(3) a wife who is understanding and accommodating, and
(4) A boss who has reasonably good heart filled with sympathy for him, the agonies can be mitigated and he can be expected to lead a hassle free life.

Here one has to remember a selfish friend, a wayward servant, a wife without any concern for the husband and a callous boss individually and in combination, could the cause of all agonies one has to face. Our lifetime is almost fully shared by these four. A so-called friend who can double-cross on you at the drop of a hat can seal your fate, but a faithful friend will espouse your case in any forum and bring you succor. A good servant is the one who would willingly keep aside his selfish interests for the welfare of the master. But servants who have joined you just to ensure your annihilation are a common sight. This also applies to subordinates in the managerial hierarchy. The one person with whom one has to share his life in all its aspect is his wife. If the views and attitudes of the wife are at loggerheads with his own peace of mind, it is better that the victim abandons normal life and go to forest to live the life of a mendicant. (Chaanakya has said.. "Maataa yasya grihe naasti bhaaryaa cha priyavaadinee aranyam tena gantavyam yadaaranya tato griham.. If one is not having his mother at home and the wife if not favorably disposes, he can shift his residence to forest all alone, since forest would definitely a better abode under the circumstances). *If one is blessed with a master who is understanding most of his servant's problems of his life, the servant's problems are gone for ever. But if the boss is a nagging one, always holding on to the principle that the role of the Manager to find fault with the subordinates and just pass on the bucks to them, the employee's life turns into a veritable hell. The heat of this inferno ought to have been felt by men in all professions and avocations at some point of time.

A quote from Bhoj Prabanadham (authored by Ballal). the worst things that can happen to people is to cutting off their vitals. The most humiliating situations that can arise for anyone and could represent the sharpest axe that cuts the principal roots of their existence are --

Sevaa Sukhaanaam Vyasanam Dhanaanaam, Yaanchaa Gurunaam Ku-nripah Prajaanaam
Pranashch Sheelashch Sutah Kulaanaam, Moolaavaghaatah Kathinah Kuthaarah [Ballaal Devasya Bhoj Prabhandhaat]

1. For one's comfortable existence in life, service under a boss who is a real taskmaster.
2. For the accumulated wealth of a person, tendency to spend money on evil things like gambling, hooch and other immoral activities.
3. For a respectable person, a situation where he has to beg or crib for something.
4. A cruel and despotic ruler can prove to be the source of ultimate misery for the subjects under him
5. For a reputed and respectable family, a son who has lost his character.

A boss who is a taskmaster can be the cause of anxiety and sense of insecurity for any servant. This does not mean that the boss can afford to be lenient. Normally the employees never obey a kind boss...it is the Dharm of Kali Yug. Only the cracking of the whip gets things delivered. But it is not so comfortable for one to be at the receiving end.

Funny are the ways of riches..  People toil hard to earn, they apply fair means or foul in the process..  but all the money can vanish into thin air if one is under the control of evil habits. For an aristocrat, if he loses his wealth and influence and is forced to a condition where he has to beg for something, it is worse to death for him. A bad king or their modern avatars can ruing a civil society or the nation as a whole. We have seen many sons from right from Duryodhan onwards to the darlings of the present day who have ensured the ruin of their family and clan through their own misdeeds.

Those who are far away from the ability to discriminate right and wrong have the intellect of a sheep. Their instruments for recreation are (funny) talking, (funny) dresses, astrology and depravity.

Wise persons do not take the wrong step even in times of crisis. By nature, they interact through truthful speech. They do not swerve from the promised Dharm. Their pious conduct is beyond speech and thought.

There lived some owls on a tree. As soon as the day broke out, they stopped seeing, so they went to their homes and shut themselves in there. Once a swan came there and said to them - "O Owls, See how beautiful is this Sun, this sunshine. these flowers, this river. Why don't you come out of your darkness and see this beautiful world?" The owls laughed heartily and replied - "Haa Haa Haa, O Brother, If there has been any Sun, couldn't we see it?" The swan got silent hearing the statement of the majority. Majority must always be right, so the member of minority flew away accepting his defeat. Nowadays, the majority is of those people who are in so much darkness (ignorance or A-Gyaan) that they cannot see the light (knowledge or Gyaan), it is difficult for them to have a concept of Gyaan.

Learning and kindness are very good qualities, while pride and hastiness are very harmful. Muhammad Tuglaq was a very good king of India. he did many good things for his people, but at the same time he was very proud if himself and was hasty in his decisions. he did regard any other person in front of him, and whatever he thought he used to implement immediately. In this craziness he transferred his capital from Dehlee to Daulataabaad and when face many difficulties, came back to Dehlee. In the same way, once he circulated copper coins without any mark on them. people copied them and the economy got disturbed, so he asked them to deposit those coins into treasury and take silver coins instead. This made his treasury empty. Once he levied four times tax, so many people left his kingdom. These habits made him ruling period very unsuccessful.

A Subhaashit Shlok puts it clearly.
Vidyaa dadaati vinayam, Vinayaat yati paatrataam,
Paatratvaat dhanam aapnoti, Dhanaat dharmam tathas-sukham.
Vidya leads to humility, Humility makes one deserve wealth. Wealth is the basis of dharma that gives lasting happiness.

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