12.8 A stranger asked a Brahmin, "who is great in this city?" The Brahmin replied "The cluster of palm trees." The stranger asked again, "Who is the most benevolent person?" The Brahmin replied, "Washer man who collects the clothes in the morning and returns them in the evening." He again questioned, "Who is the most able person?" The Brahmin replied, "Everyone is able in stealing other's wives and wealth." The stranger again asked, "How can you live in such a city?" The Brahmin replied, "like a worm lives in filth." In this shloka, Chanakya has highlighted the rampant faults in the society.
