CHAPTER VI.
Of Gains and Losses; Attendant Gains and Losses; and Doubts; As Also of the Different Kinds of Courtezans.
It sometimes happens that while gains are being sought for, or expected to be realized, losses only are the result of our efforts; the causes of which losses are:
- Weakness of intellect.
- Excessive love.
- Excessive pride.
- Excessive self conceit.
- Excessive simplicity.
- Excessive confidence.
- Excessive anger.
- Carelessness.
- Recklessness.
- Influence of evil genius.
- Accidental circumstances.
The results of these losses are:
- Expense incurred without any result.
- Destruction of future good fortune.
- Stoppage of gains about to be realized.
- Loss of what is already obtained.
- Acquisition of a sour temper.
- Becoming unamiable to everybody.
- Injury to health.
- Loss of hair, and other accidents.
Now gain is of three kinds, viz.: gain of wealth, gain of religious merit, and gain of pleasure; and similarly, loss is of three kinds, viz.: loss of wealth, loss of religious merit, and loss of pleasure. At the time when gains are sought for, if other gains come along with them, these are called attendant gains. When gain is uncertain, the doubt of its being a gain is called a simple doubt. When there is a doubt whether either of two things will happen or not, it is called a mixed doubt. If while one thing is being done two results take place, it is called a combination of two results, and if several results follow from the same action, it is called a combination of results on every side.
