Some character never going to be changed forever. They remain with the person till their last breath. Even if you try to change it by all means, you going to fail in every aspect. Because sometime people does not wanted to be changed as they do not have the strength to seed some good thoughts in themselves. Especially it happens to a foolish person. Who remain unmoved even if you keep them among the knowledgeable person.
Our Sanskrit scholars have made the following lines to explain the foolish character by giving a natural simile.
अन्तःसारविहीनस्य सहायः किं करिष्यति|
मलयेSपि स्थितो वेणुर्वेणुरेव न चन्दनः||
Antahsaaraviheenasya sahaayah kim karishyati.
Malayepi sthito venurvenureva na chandanah.
(image from my own piece of art)
Antahsaaraviheenasya = Antah + saara + viheenasya.
Antah = inner.
Saara = strength.
Viheenasya = bereft of, without. Sahaayah = help.
Kim = what
Karishyati = does.
Malayepi = malaye + api.
Malaye = a mountaneous region in South India famous for its Sandawood forests. Sthito = existing.
Venurvenureva = venuh + venu + iva.
Venuh = bamboo plant.
Iva = like the.
Na = not.
Chandanah = sandalwood.
The above verses has following meaning;
"Of what use is the outward help to those persons who are bereft of any inner strength and intellect? Just see! bamboo plants growing in Malaya region in a forest of Sandalwood trees remain bamboo plants and do not become sandalwood."
By the use of a simile of bamboo plants growing along with the Sandalwood, the author has emphasised that in spite of being in the company of learned persons fools can not become learned persons due to lack of inner strength and intellect in them.
@queenart