“The virtues are lost in self-interest as rivers are lost in the sea”

Simplified Meaning:

When people become too focused on their own needs and desires, they can lose their good qualities or virtues, like kindness and honesty. Imagine a river flowing strongly with clean, fresh water. This river represents the good traits in a person. However, when this river reaches the vast sea, its unique water gets mixed up and disappears. Similarly, if someone only thinks about themselves and what they want, the good things they do can get overshadowed or lost. For example, consider a person who starts a charity to help others. At first, they are motivated by genuine care and kindness – their virtues. But if they start focusing only on gaining fame or wealth from their charity work, their original good intentions become hidden, just like the river water mixes into the sea. To keep our virtues strong, we need to balance our self-interest with caring for others and doing good for the right reasons. We should regularly check our motives and make sure we are not letting selfish desires take over our actions.