हंसास्सर्वाङ्गशुचयः पद्मेभ्यो बहिरासते ।
अन्तर्विशान्ति मधुपाः श्रीमतां गतिरीदृषी ॥
haṁsās sarvāṅga-śucayaḥ padmebhyo bahir āsate |
antarviśānti madhupāḥ śrīmatāṁ gatir īdṛśī ||
(Unknown source)
“Swans, who are white all over their body, remain outside lotus flowers. Bees [lit. “nectar-drinkers”] enter within [them]. The way of the exalted is such.”
Commentary
Swans may look well, but bees, who comparatively are not as externally beautiful as swans, get to experience something finer. Similarly, great souls are more concerned will depth in experience than greatest in appearance.