Of the four ‘ purushartas’ Dharma, artha, kama and moksha, artha or money is considered as the best according to sastras! But that money has to be earned in righteous manner. Money gains importance in life because everything in this material world revolves around money! We know the Sanskrit adage, ‘ dhana moolam idam jagat-- money is the root cause of this world! In spite of lack of character, morality, scholarship, courage and various other qualities, a rich man is considered great and flatterers and sycophants gather round him like ants before the sugar candy! He enjoys this undeserved flattery but does not know his own real state! There is every possibility for the rich to be puffed up with pride and arrogance and turn into bad persons and tread evil paths! One has to be very cautious about joining the company of the rich who are bad guys! At any cost the bad rich person has to be abandoned! What qualities signify a bad person?
Bhartruhari lists the qualities of bad persons in this world. These do not apply to a single person or country or race and community. Persons without compassion, those who pick up quarrel for no reason, those who want to appropriate others’ properties, that desire enjoyment with other women, those who are impatient with their relatives and good people are labeled as bad ! These are the natural, inborn qualities of bad guys and none should keep company with such Individuals! The serpent, though with a precious stone on its hood, is very dangerous! So too a bad person despite his erudition and scholarship has to be kept at an arm’s distance! How do bad persons consider others? The modest are looked down upon as inert, people performing ‘vratas’ are arrogant. Naturally pure persons are blamed as putting on airs! Bad persons consider as foolish those involved in realizing their Atma in meditation! People who talk sweetly are pathetic to the bad guy! One who is bright and radiant is, for the bad, a proud person. A smart and eloquent person is a chatterbox for a bad individual! There is not a single virtue which is not denounced by the bad person!
What qualities are good and what are bad? Bhartruhari considers miserliness as the worst! Carrying tales is a sin leading the person to hell! There is no principle purer than speaking truth! There is no holy ‘ thirtha’ leading to ‘moksha’ better than a pure heart or manas! It is your goodness that does everything for you like servants! Your greatness is your great adornment! There is no better wealth than good education! Bad renown is the worst death that one can have! Bhartruhari describes how it is practically impossible to serve bad kings. You are considered deaf if you don't talk; a chatterbox if you talk too much! If very near you are branded as fearless and disrespectful; .if at a distance incapable. If you endure humiliation you are called timid and when you rebel you are considered as born of low caste! In short, it is very different to satisfy a bad king!
What will be the nature of friendship with the good a well as the bad? The friendship with the bad is like the shadow during the morning hours.It is long at first but gradually decreases in size until it disappears! On the other hand the friendship with the good is like the shadow in the afternoon, first short and increasing gradually thereafter! The bad are naturally hostile to others in society.The deer is gentle and Iives on grass. The fish feeds on insects in water They are satisfied and live with contentment without harming others! It is the quality of the good people to lead a contented life with what little god has given them! Despite their harmlessness hunters target the deer, anglers kill fish and the mischievous bring sorrow to the good and the noble!
What creates excruciating pain to an individual? Bhartruhari lists seven things in life that make life unbearable! They are 1 the moon in the morning without lustre, 2 the woman shorn of her prime youth, 3 a dandy without education, 4 the king mad after money, 5 a good person permanently suffering from poverty, 6 a bad guy with the king obstructing and spoiling the work of others! Hence it is always better to avoid the company of bad people though they are rich, powerful, or scholarly and erudite! We do not know how they will react at certain points of time!1
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