नात्यन्तसरलैर्भाव्यं गत्वा पश्य वने तरुन् l
सरलास्तत्र छिद्यन्ते कुब्जास्तिष्ठन्ति पादपाः ll
naatyantasaralairbhaavyam gatvaa pashya vane tarun l
saralaastatra chhidyante kubjaastiShThanti paadapaah ll
While honesty and straightforwardness in dealings is a virtue, here the Subhashitakar is referring to the simplicity and gullibility of a person which is to such an extent that others take undue advantage of him when he says – Do not deal with unknown or unreliable people in such a straightforward and simple manner that the other person dupes you. It is just like – in the forest, the straight (and tall) trees are cut by the woodcutter, while the crooked ones are untouched. What he is conveying here is that one has to be worldly-wise and not let one’s simplicity be his weakness.