Flowers and fruits are better than wood. Likewise, Desire is better than Virtue and Profit. As honey is extracted from flowers, so is desire from these two. Desire is the father of Virtue and profit. Desire is the soul of these two.
श्रेयः पुष्पफलं काष्ठात् कामो धर्मार्थयोर्वरः॥ पुष्पतो मध्विव रसः काम आभ्यां तथा स्मृतः। कामो धर्मार्थयोर्योनिः कामश्चाथ तदात्मकः॥