28. Imposture

The five elements (of his body) will laugh within him at the feigned conduct of the deceitful minded man.

What avails an appearance (of sanctity) high as heaven, if his mind suffers (the indulgence) of conscious sin.

The assumed appearance of power, by a man who has no power (to restrain his senses and perform austerity), is like a cow feeding on grass covered with a tiger's skin.

He who hides himself under the mask of an ascetic and commits sins, like a sportsman who conceals himself in the thicket to catch birds.

The false conduct of those who say they have renounced all desire will one day bring them sorrows that will make them cry out, "Oh! what have we done, what have we done."

Amongst living men there are none so hard-hearted as those who without to saking (desire) in their heart, falsely take the appearance of those who have forsaken (it).

(The world) contains persons whose outside appears (as fair) as the (red) berry of the Abrus, but whose inside is as black as the nose of that berry.

There are many men of masked conduct, who perform their ablutions, and (make a show) of greatness, while their mind is defiled (with guilt).

As, in its use, the arrow is crooked, and the curved lute is straight, so by their deeds, (and not by their appearance) let (the uprightness or crookedness of) men be estimated.

There is no need of a shaven crown, nor of tangled hair, if a man abstain from those deeds which the wise have condemned.