Chapter 100 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100

Valmiki Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda

Verse 100.20

कच्चित् सहस्रैर्मूर्खाणामेकमिच्छसि पण्डितम्। पण्डितो ह्यर्थकृच्छेषु कुर्यानिःश्रेयसं महत्॥

kaccit sahasrairmūrkhāṇāmekamicchasi paṇḍitam| paṇḍito hyarthakṛccheṣu kuryāniḥśreyasaṃ mahat||

English Meaning

And passing by a thousand dunces, do you set your heart on having a single wise man? In times of pecuniary stress, a wise man stands in excellent stead.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)