Subhūta

If a person, wishing for a certain outcome,
Applies themseves to a misguided endeavor,
And they don’t achieve what they have practiced for,
They say: “That’s a sign of my bad luck.”
When a misfortune has been plucked out and conquered,
To give it up in part would be like the losing throw of the dice;
But to give up everything would be as if one was blind,
Not discerning the even and the uneven.
You should only say what you would do;
You shouldn’t say what you wouldn’t do.
The wise will recognize
One who talks without doing.
Just like a glorious flower
That’s colourful but lacks fragrance;
So is well-spoken speech fruitless
For one not acting in accordance.
Just like a glorious flower
Is both colourful and fragrant,
So is well-spoken speech fruitful
For one who acts in accordance.