In plain words
Knowledge has grown, but Viveka has shrunk. So Viveka is the examination of what is lasting and what is passing. When that is lacking, what use is it, however much man creates?
Through education man must become a complete human being. For students, we must fill the hands with work and the heart with sacred feelings. But today's education goes on loading the head with a store of worldly matter. Today's education gives no encouragement at all to the building of man or the building of character. Learning without humility, life without character, scholarship without discernment, a society without discipline, a brother without gratitude, a friend who forgets the good done to him, music without sweetness, authority without merit, speeches that cannot fully satisfy their listeners: none of these shines at all in the world today. They do not win the people's regard. What is the root cause of all this? On the student the taint of company lies very heavy. Students must cultivate the right friendship. Only when they cultivate such friendship is there a chance for the student's Viveka and knowledge to grow as well. ‘Tyaja durjana saṃsargam’ Runaway from evil company. In this way we must give up the company of the wicked at once. Even the finest student turns into the lowest precisely through the wicked. Even one who was a man is turning into a demon. This bad company leads man into many kinds of evil qualities. It is not only the company of persons. We must see that wicked feelings too do not enter us. Only when bad thoughts gather in us do we enter into bad deeds. That is why the chief aim of this education is to see that such feelings too do not enter us. We think of the snake as a poisonous creature. No. No. The wicked man is far more vicious than the snake. A snake tries to bite only once in a while, only when someone meddles with it. For the wicked man there are no rules of time at all. He stands beyond even place, time and circumstance. He seeks no reason at all. To hurt others and to torment others is the wicked man's only joy. So we must keep well away from the company of such people.
Bring home a wild beast and rear it with affection: when it grows hungry it will pin you down. The friendship of a wicked man full of evil qualities is more dreadful than a wild beast. One may seek out and keep company with a man of anger, one may even lie down beside a snake, but if one takes up the friendship of an envious man, he is ruined in this world.