Hard to humour

One may well in one swift motion Snatch a jewel from crocodile jaws, May swim across a vast ocean Gone stormy what with giant bows, Can well fight with a furious snake And wrap it like garland ‘round neck, But scarce can please a proven fool, How so well-schooled he’s, how so cool. _______________________ Translation | | please, fool Poet’s Note: Bhartruhari was a poet king in central India in the seventh century CE, who when disillusioned in love renounced kingdom and became an ascetic. Neeti Shatakam, a compilation of hundred verses on moral values was written by him along with Shringar Shatakam on romance, and Vairagya Shatakam on dispassion and renunciation. This verse on fools is taken from Neeti Shatakam. Prasahya manim uddharet makara-vaktra danshtran Ankurat samudram api san-taret prachalat urmi malakulam | Bhujangam api kopitam shirasi pushpavat dharayet Na tu prati-nivishta murkha jana chittam aradhayet || 4 || Metre: Prthvi-vrtta