August 7, 2026
na nāstikyānna cāstikyātkaṣṭānuṣṭhānavaidikāḥ
manojñamadhurācārāḥ priyapeśalavādinaḥ (3)
VASIṢṬHA continued:
The enemies of holiness, which are greed, delusion, etc., are greatly weakened in the case of the wise men who are full of dispassion and who rest in the supreme state. They do not give way to exhilaration nor to anger; they do not get involved in anything nor take anything. They do not agitate people nor are they agitated by them. They are neither atheists nor are they confined to a traditional belief. They do not engage themselves in torturous practices even if they are ordained by the scriptures. Their actions and behaviour are full of common-sense and sweetness, soft (gentle) and affectionate.
They gladden the hearts of all. They point out the wise path and instantly and spontaneously they decide what is best. They engage themselves in all kinds of activity externally; but inwardly they are cool and tranquil. They love investigating the meanings of the scriptures. They know who is who (who is a mature person and who is immature). They know what to accept and what to reject. Their actions are appropriate to the occasion.
They avoid forbidden actions. They enjoy good company. They worship with the flowers of wisdom everyone who seeks their company and their teaching. They rob the people of their sorrow and grief. They are kind and gentle; but when the rulers of the earth become unrighteous and oppressive they shake them up even as an earthquake shakes a mountain. They encourage people in distress and enhance the joy of the happy ones. They restrain the ignorant and foolish behaviour of people.
When one is afflicted by calamities and mental confusion, trials and tribulations, the saints alone are one’s refuge. Recognising them by the characteristics given above one should resort to them for peace. This ocean of saṁsāra is impassable except with the help of the saints. One should not become passive, fatalistically accepting whatever happens. If all the qualities described are not found in one person, if even one of these qualities is present, one should resort to such a holy man, ignoring all the other defects that may be found in him. One should learn to recognise the good in others as well as the defects; and then one should strive to resort to the company of the good and the wise. Even if a good person has some defect, one should serve him, avoiding major evil tendencies. If one does not overcome evil tendencies, even a good man becomes wicked. This is what I have observed. It is indeed a great misfortune and a calamity to the entire society when a good man turns wicked on account of circumstances.
Hence, one should abandon all other activity and be devoted to the saintly ones. There is no obstacle to this. This alone is capable of bestowing on one the best of both the worlds. One should never be far away from the saints for by their very proximity the saints promote goodness everywhere.