Distinctive Features of Saintly and Wicked Persons - Part II

Six features to avoid

- Shri Murarilal Dhanuka

Now, Shri Bhagavan enlists the marks of the one who hankers after worldly pleasures and prosperity, and is endowed with a demonic nature. In verse four of chapter sixteen, the Lord says,

दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारूष्यमेव च । अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम् ॥१६.४।। 

Hypocrisy (professing of virtue or goodness that one does not possess), arrogance, pride, anger, harshness and ignorance, these are the marks, O Arjuna, of him who has a demonic nature.

Hypocrisy: A person shows his virtues in order to gain honour, fame, praise etc. even when he does not possess these virtues. A person may pose as a righteous, virtuous, scholarly, wise man, even though he has no such virtues.

Such a person, attaches too much importance to his body, life-breath, wealth, property, honour, praise etc.

Arrogance: Pride of possessions of riches, property, family, rank and position etc.

Pride: Because of his egoism, a person may regard himself superior and exalted.

Anger: Excitement or burning sensation caused in the mind desiring to do wrong to others. It appears when one does something against a man's wishes.