THE DISTINGUISHING TRAITS OF THE GOOD AND WICKED from Sri Ramacharitamanasa

[Guest guest]

THE DISTINGUISHING TRAITS OF THE GOOD AND THE WICKED from

Sri Ramacharitamanasa

The Ramayana of Goswami Tulasidas

Uttar-Kanda - 37-40

 

 

The conduct of saints and the wicked is analogous to that of sandal-

wood and the axe. The axe cuts down a sandal-tree, while the sandal-

tree in its turn perfumes the axe by imparting its virtue (fragrance)

to the axe. For this reason, sandal-wood (in the form of paste) finds

its way to the head of gods (as tilak on the images of gods), and is

loved by the world so much; while the axe has its metal edge heated

in the fire and beaten with a hammer as punishment.

 

Saints as a rule have no hankering for the pleasures of the senses

and are the very mines of amiability and other virtues. They grieve

to see others in distress and rejoice at the sight of others' joy.

They are even-minded and look upon none as their enemy. Free from

vanity and passion, they are conquerers of greed, anger, joy and

fear. Tender of heart and compassionate to the distressed , they

cherish guileless devotion to the Lord in thought, word and

deed...... They never swerve from the control of their mind and

senses, religious observances and correct behaviour and never utter a

harsh word.

 

Now hear the characteristics of the impious, association with whom

should be scrupulously avoided; for their company ever brings woe,

even as a wicked cow ruins by her company a cow of noble breed. The

heart of the wicked suffers terrible agony; for they ever burn at the

sight of others' prosperity. Wherever they hear others reviled, they

feel delighted as though they had stumbled upon a treasure lying on

the road. Devoted to sensuality, anger, arrogance and greed, they are

merciless, deceitful, crooked and impure. They bear enmity towards

all without rhyme or reason; they behave inimically even with those

who are actively kind to them. They are false in their dealings

(lying is their stock-in-trade). They speak honeyed words just like

the peacock that has a stony heart and devours the most venomous

snake.

 

Malevolent by nature, they enjoy other's wives and other's wealth and

take delight in slandering others. Such vile and sinful men are

demons in human garb.... Devoted to their own selfish interests, they

antagonise their kinsfolk, are given up to sensuality and greed and

are most irascible. They recognise neither mother nor father nor

preceptor nor the Brahmans; utterly ruined themselves, they bring

ruin upon others. Overcome by infatuation they bear malice to others

and have no love for communion with saints nor for the stories

relating to Sri Hari. Oceans of vice, dull-witted, and lascivious,

they revile the Vedas and usurp others' wealth. Though bearing malice

to all, they are enemies of the Brahmans in particular; and full of

hypocrisy and deceit at heart, they outwardly wear a saintly

appearance.

 

Such vile and wicked men are absent in the Satya and Treta Yugas; a

sprinkling of them will appear in the Dwapara, while multitude of

them will crop forth in the Kali age.