23. All this concourse of men, is impelled to and fro by avarice, as if they are pulled by ropes; it is easy to break the band of ropes, but not the bond of avarice. (There is a play of words here, as that of band, bond and bondage).
24. Then Ráma, get rid of avarice by forsaking your desires; because it is ascertained by the wise, that the mind dies away by want of its desires (to dwell upon).
25. Never observe the distinctions of my, thy and his in all thy wishes, but wish for the good of all alike; and never foster any bad desire (which is foul in its nature).
26. The thought of self in what is not the self, is the parent of all our woe; when you cease to think the notself as the self you are then reckoned among the wise.
27. Cut off your egoism, O gentle Ráma! and dwell in thy unearthly self by forgetting yourself, and by dispelling your fear from all created being. (Here is an alliteration of the letter bh ভ in the last line, as ভু, ভব, ভয়).
CHAPTER XVI.
HEALING OF AVARICE.
Argument. The way to forsake the desires, and become liberated in this life and the next.
Ráma said:—It is too deep for me sir, to understand what you say to me, for the abandonment of my egoism and avarice.
2. For how is it possible, sir, to forsake my egoism, without forsaking this body and every thing that bears relation to it?
3. It is egoism which is the chief support of the body, as a post or prop is the support of a thatched house.