In plain words
Man is afraid of the snake. He looks on it with contempt as a poisonous creature. But when that same snake becomes the ornament of Īśvara, we bow to that very snake. When we see a rat we keep a cat to catch the rats, or try to kill them. But when that same rat stands as the vehicle of Vighneśvara, we worship it and honour it. A stone lying in the bazaar is looked on with contempt and pushed aside. But when a sculptor shapes that same stone into a fine form, that stone is installed in a temple and receives the sixteen offerings of worship. This is the power of good company. When we join with good people we reach the highest level. When we gain good company we reach the highest level. We receive sacred fruits. When we place fire, which uplifts the world, in the sacrificial pit, we worship it and offer oblations to it. When this same fire joins with iron it takes the blows of the hammer. It is fire that cooks! It is fire that helps man by giving light and driving the darkness away! It is fire too that burns a man to ashes in the burning ground! Its worth changes with its place. If one puts poison in a potful of water, the water too turns to poison. If one pours milk into a large vessel and puts a single drop of poison in it, the whole of the milk turns to poison. This is the power of bad company. When we fall into bad company, however much goodness we have, we misuse it. However low the state we are in, if we join good company we win a good name. It is on account of this that
From good company comes detachment; from detachment, freedom from delusion; from freedom from delusion, the unwavering principle; from the unwavering principle, liberation in this life:
so they have said. Good company is very necessary for children.