समानकर्माचरणं पतितानां न पातकम् । औत्पत्तिको गुण: सङ्गो न शयान: पतत्यध: ॥ १७ ॥
samāna-karmācaraṇaṁ patitānāṁ na pātakam autpattiko guṇaḥ saṅgo na śayānaḥ pataty adhaḥ
- samāna
- equal
- karma
- of work
- ācaraṇam
- the performance
- patitānām
- for those who are fallen
- na
- is not
- pātakam
- a cause of falldown
- autpattikaḥ
- dictated by one’s nature
- guṇaḥ
- becomes a good quality
- saṅgaḥ
- material association
- na
- does not
- śayānaḥ
- one who is lying down
- patati
- fall
- adhaḥ
- further down
The same activities that would degrade an elevated person do not cause falldown for those who are already fallen. Indeed, one who is lying on the ground cannot possibly fall further. The material association that is dictated by one’s own nature is considered a good quality.