The Lokanîti.
3
6.
One should despise neither science nor art, saying to himself—"It is of little consequence:" even one learnt to perfection is a suitable means of livelihood.
7.
There is not a gem in every rock nor pearl in every elephant,[1] not sandal-wood in every forest, nor erudition in every place.
8.
If it be known where a wise man, full of learning, is—one in search of knowledge should eagerly repair to that place.
9.
Learning comes by degrees, wealth little by little, climbing a mountain is done gradually, love comes by degrees, anger little by little,—these five little by little.[2]
10.
General knowledge,[3] the science of law,[4] calculation,
- ↑ Fabulously supposed to be in the head. There is a similar conceit concerning the snake and toad.
- ↑ Sine sine = "little by little."
- ↑ Suti (= Sanskrit śruli, "hearing") is rendered in Burmese by "what heard and seen." I have translated it by "general knowledge." The reference, no doubt, is to the knowledge of the Vedas, or at least of the mantras (hymns), and brâhmanas (expositions)—the books obtained by Rishis through divine revelation.
- ↑ The Pâli sammuti (an adaptation of smṛiti, "memory") is rendered by "the knowledge of the Dhammathats." Sammuti, strictly speaking, signifies "tradition," to which heading the Sanskrit Dharmaśâstras are referred. Śruti is what is heard by divine revelation in contrast with smṛiti—what is received from memory (tradition). With regard to the latter, Monier Williams remarks:— "This is believed to be founded on Śruti, 'direct revelation', as its primary basis, and only possesses authority in so far as it is in harmony with such revealed truth. The very essence of Smṛiti, however, is considered to be that it was delivered memoriter by human authors and put into the form of human composition." The six principal divisions of Smṛiti in Sanskrit literature are:—
I.The Vedângas ("Helps to the Vedas"), comprising—
(a)Kalpa (Ceremonial Directory).
(b)Sikshâ (Pronunciation).
(c)Chandas (Metre).
(d)Nirukta (Exposition).
(e)Vyâkaraṇa (Grammar).
(f)Jyotisha (Astronomy).
II.The Smârta Sûtras (Non-Vedic Ceremonies).
