मागां बोलिले लेखनभेद । आतां ऐका अर्थभेद । नाना प्रकारीचे संवाद । समजोन घ्यावे ॥ १ ॥

Earlier the varieties of writing were described; now hear the varieties of meaning. One should understand the many different kinds of dialogue and discourse.

शब्दभेद अर्थभेद । मुद्राभेद प्रबंधभेद । नाना शब्दाचे शब्दभेद । जाणोनी पाहावे ॥ २ ॥

The differences of words, of meanings, of expression, and of composition - one should come to know these many kinds of distinctions among words.

नाना आशंका प्रत्योत्तरें । नाना प्रचित साक्षात्कारें । जेणें करितां जगदांतरें । चमत्कारती ॥ ३ ॥

One should be able to give fitting answers to all kinds of doubts, speaking from direct realization and experience, so that the hearts of listeners everywhere are struck with wonder.

नाना पूर्वपक्ष सिद्धांत । प्रत्ययो पाहावा नेमस्त । अनुमानाचे स्वस्तवेस्त । बोलोंचि नये ॥ ४ ॥

When presenting various objections and their resolutions, one should verify them rigorously through direct experience. One should never speak carelessly on the strength of mere conjecture.

प्रवृत्ति अथवा निवृत्ती । प्रचितीविण अवघी भ्रांती । गलंग्यांमधील जगज्जोति । चेतेल कोठें ॥ ५ ॥

Whether it concerns the path of action or of renunciation, anything said without direct realization is mere illusion. How can the light that illumines the world ever be kindled from a heap of confused words alone?

हेत समजोन उत्तर देणें । दुसयाचे जीवीचें समजणें । मुख्य चातुर्याचीं लक्षणें । तें हें ऐसीं ॥ ६ ॥

Understanding the other person's intent before answering, and sensing what is in another's heart - these are the true marks of cleverness.

चातुर्येंविण खटपट । ते विद्यादि फलकट । सभेमधें आटघाट । समाधान कैचें ॥ ७ ॥

Effort and learning without cleverness bear no fruit. However hard such a person struggles in an assembly, from where would satisfaction ever come?

बहुत बोलणें ऐकावें । तेथें मोन्यचि धरावें । अल्पचिन्हें समजावें । जगदांतर ॥ ८ ॥

One should simply listen when others speak a great deal, keeping one's own silence. From the smallest hints, one should be able to read what is in another's heart.

बाष्कळामधें बैसो नये । उद्धटासिं तंडों नये । आपणाकरितां खंडों नये । समाधान जनाचें ॥ ९ ॥

One should not sit among idle chatterers, nor quarrel with the arrogant. One's own conduct must never disturb the peace of mind of others.

नेणतपण सोडूं नये । जाणपणें फुगो नये । नाना जनाचें हृदये । मृद शब्दें उकलावें ॥ १० ॥

One should not give up an appearance of simplicity, nor swell with pride over one's own knowledge. The hearts of all kinds of people are to be opened only with gentle, soft words.

प्रसंग जाणावा नेटका । बहुतांसी जाझु नका । खरें असतांचि नासका । फड होतो ॥ ११ ॥

One should judge the occasion precisely and not argue needlessly with many people at once. Even when one is in the right, pressing the point stubbornly can spoil the whole gathering.

शोध घेतां आळसों नये । भ्रष्ट लोकीं बैसों नये । बैसलें तरी टाकूं नये । मिथ्या दोष ॥ १२ ॥

One should not be lazy about seeking out the truth, nor sit in the company of corrupt people. And even if one is forced to sit among them, one should not cast a false blame on anyone.

अंतर आर्ताचें शोधावें । प्रसंगीं थोडें चि वाचावें । चटक लाउनी सोडावें । भल्या मनुष्यासी ॥ १३ ॥

One should discern the inner state of a person in distress, and speak sparingly on such occasions. Yet one should leave a good person with such a taste for one's company that he longs to return.

मज्यालसींत बैसों नये । समाराधनेसी जाऊं नये । जातां येळीलवाणें होये । जिणें आपुलें ॥ १४ ॥

One should not sit in idle, pleasure-seeking gatherings, nor go about chasing feasts and banquets. Going to such places only makes one's own life feel shallow and wasted.

उत्तम गुण प्रगटवावे । मग भलत्यासी बोलतां फावे । भले पाहोन करावे । शोधून मित्र ॥ १५ ॥

One should first bring one's own good qualities into view; only then does one earn the standing to speak with anyone. Friends should be chosen only after carefully searching out and testing good people.

उपासनेसारिखें बोलावें । सर्व जनासि तोषवावें । सगट बरेंपण राखावें । कोण्हीयेकासी ॥ १६ ॥

One should speak in keeping with one's own faith and devotion, while pleasing everyone. Toward any single person, one should still hold onto goodness toward all.

ठाईं ठाईं शोध घ्यावा । मग ग्रामीं प्रवेश करावा । प्राणीमात्र बोलवावा । आप्तपणें ॥ १७ ॥

One should gather knowledge of a place thoroughly before entering a village, and then speak to every being there with warmth, as to one's own kin.

उंच नीच म्हणों नये । सकळांचें निववावें हृदये । अस्तमानीं जाऊं नये । कोठें तर्‍ही ॥ १८ ॥

One should never call anyone high or low, and should give comfort to every heart. And one should not go out anywhere after sunset.

जगामधें जगमित्र । जिव्हेपासीं आहे सूत्र । कोठें र्‍ही सत्पात्र । शोधून काढावें ॥ १९ ॥

The key to becoming a friend to the whole world lies in the tongue, that is, in one's speech. And everywhere one should seek out and find the truly worthy person.

कथा होती तेथें जावें । दुरी दीनासारिखें बैसावें । तेथील सकळ हरद्र घ्यावें । अंतर्यामीं ॥ २० ॥

Wherever a discourse or a story is being told, one should go there and sit humbly at a distance, like the lowliest among them, and take in all its essence deep within the heart.

तेथें भले आडळती । व्यापा ते हि कळों येती । हळुहळु मंदगती । रीग करावा ॥ २१ ॥

In such gatherings one comes across good people, and one also comes to understand what business is going on there. One should gradually and gently work one's way in.

सकळामधें विशेष श्रवण । श्रवणाहुनी थोर मनन । मननें होये समाधान । बहुत जनाचें ॥ २२ ॥

Among all these, listening is especially important, but reflection is even greater than listening. It is reflection that truly brings satisfaction to many people.

धूर्तपणें सकळ जाणावें अंतरीं अंतर बाणावें । समजल्याविण सिणावें । कासयासी ॥ २३ ॥

One should discern everything shrewdly and let its inner essence settle deep within. Why exhaust oneself in effort without first truly understanding?