Text 6
jñātayaḥ pitarau putrā
bhrātaraḥ suhṛdo ’pare
yad vadanti yad icchanti
cānumodeta nirmamaḥ
jñātayaḥ — relatives, family members; pitarau — the father and mother; putrāḥ — children; bhrātaraḥ — brothers; suhṛdaḥ — friends; apare — and others; yat — whatever; vadanti — they suggest (in regard to one’s means of livelihood); yat — whatever; icchanti — they wish; ca — and; anumodeta — he should agree; nirmamaḥ — but without taking them seriously.
An intelligent man in human society should make his own program of activities very simple. If there are suggestions from his friends, children, parents, brothers or anyone else, he should externally agree, saying, “Yes, that is all right,” but internally he should be determined not to create a cumbersome life in which the purpose of life will not be fulfilled.