In plain words
He: “O King! What need of gold coins have I, who have renounced every attachment?” With that he refused them. The next day the same man put on the costume of a dancing girl and danced splendidly in the court. When the king again went to give him some gold coins: “O King! These are not enough for me,” he said. The king, astonished: “Sir! Yesterday you would have no gold coins at all. Today you say that what was given is not enough. What is the meaning of this?” he asked. Then the strolling player: “O King! Yesterday I had put on the costume of a sannyāsī, so I would have no gold at all. Today I have put on the costume of a dancing girl. So I ask for more. Honour comes only when conduct befits the costume,” he said.
Self-confidence: Lincoln's example
Man today has put on the costume of a man, but he is forgetting humanness. Since he is born a man, he must nourish human values. He must live with self-confidence. He must guard his self-respect. You know: Lincoln was born into a very poor family. One day, unable to bear it when his schoolfellows mocked the clothes he wore, he came crying to his mother: “Mother! All my schoolfellows look at my clothes, take me for a pauper and make fun of me. So have good clothes made for me,” he said. Then his mother: “My son! Understand our situation well. There is no ornament greater than self-respect. Let others think what they like; do not take any notice. Live with self-confidence, guard your self-respect,” she taught him.
His mother's teaching left an indelible mark on Lincoln's heart. Some time later his mother died. His father married a second time. His stepmother too: “My son! As your mother taught you, grow in self-confidence and strive for self-respect,” she went on teaching him. Some time later his father too died. Lincoln started a small business. In no circumstances did he lose his self-confidence. Recognising his goodness, all his friends urged him to stand in the elections.