Chapter 16 Shloka 7

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुरा:।

न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते।।७।।

Those with demonic disposition

do not know when to engage in activity

and when to abstain from it.

Such people do not possess purity,

nor honourable conduct, nor even Truth.

Chapter 16 Shloka 7

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुरा:।

न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते।।७।।

Now the Lord details the evil qualities.

Those with demonic disposition do not know when to engage in activity and when to abstain from it. Such people do not possess purity, nor honourable conduct, nor even Truth.

Little one, those who possess demonic qualities cannot discern the propriety or the impropriety of engagement in action or pravritti, as differentiated from abstinence from action or nivritti.

Kamla, such people:

a) give priority to what they like;

b) are governed by ignorance;

c) are predominantly egoistic and proud;

d) attach maximum importance to their body which is full of desires;

e) are ruled by the ‘I’;

f) can see only ‘what is in it for me?’

g) regard only the satiation of ego to be important.

Their engagement in or abstinence from action depends on the desires they seek to fulfil. Both perseverance in deeds and desisting from them, are not dependent on the doership attitude, but on one’s attachments. If one is devoid of attachment, both pravritti and nivritti are of no consequence.

From the demonic perspective:

1. Duty has no meaning.

2. “Why should we do anything for others?” is the predominant refrain.

3. They cannot believe that others too, have rights over them.

4. If they clash with anyone, they do not even regard the latter to be a human being!

5. Pursuance of deeds and refraining from them are both related to some purpose. He whose every deed reeks of selfishness:

­­–  does not understand pravritti and nivritti from the point of view of the world;

­­–  does not understand the terms pravritti and nivritti from the point of view of offering all actions to the Supreme;

­­–  does not understand these terms from the point of view of other people.

Such asuras or demonic beings are utterly impure.

First understand who is pure:

1. One in whom not even a speck of falsity inheres.

2. One in whom not even a speck of pollution dwells.

3. One in whom the ‘I’ is completely annihilated.

4. One in whom Truth abides.

5. One who does not rob the Lord of what belongs to Him.

6. One who has offered his body, mind and intellect to the Lord.

The impure

The fact is that this body is a divine manifestation of Brahm. It is only the admixture of ego which reduces it to dust and robs it of its divinity. Impurity implies distancing oneself from the Lord. It is a formidable obstacle in the path of the spiritual practicant.

If you wish to understand this simply, know that the individualising ‘I’ is the root cause of impurities. No matter what this ‘I’ touches – whether it be a thought, a desire, an object or another human being, it renders it impure.

The conduct of demonic beings is never propitious because:

a) they do not really ‘see’ another even if the other be in their line of vision;

b) they do everything solely to further their own selfish interests;

c) they believe that they have rights over everyone.

They think, “I must get whatever I like.” If their object of desire is refused to them, they are very likely to abuse and censure the entire world. They are like the poor who seek wealth, yet curse the wealthy; and if perchance they acquire wealth, they ignore their poor relations. Where the rich are concerned, there is unceasing desire for more wealth and a rejection of other human beings. Such beings are indeed impure and because of their innate defilement, their interaction with others is also polluted.

1. Their behaviour is inspired by greed and desire.

2. Their conduct makes others insecure and fearful.

3. Their manner is critical and contemptuous of others.

4. Their manner is full of rejection and loathing.

5. Their conduct is hardhearted and merciless.

Little one, immersed in their greed, such people seek the riches of the entire world only for themselves. Nothing is ever enough for them. They are insatiable. They borrow and do not return the loan. They use all means to keep every penny for themselves.

Little one, the more such people have, the more they want. These demonic souls are pervaded by the attributes of greed, desire, darkness etc. Their vision is obliterated by the opacity of these traits. In the present day, most people belong to this category. Truth is completely eliminated in such circumstances.

After all little one,

a) Where is the need for truth if I can be rich without it?

b) If lies and falsehood can attain the fulfilment of my desires, why speak the truth?

c) When one can gain respect through false pretexts, who will speak the truth?

d) When others can be influenced by duplicity, why should one stick to the truth?

e) If others can be duped through false praise, why will the swindler adhere to the truth?

When one is attached to the body, one has to resort to lies and prevarication all one’s life. Attachment to the body-self persuades one to do everything for the body-self. Such a one lives only for the establishment of his body. Having resorted to lies for body establishment, he continues to follow deceitful methods to establish ‘me and mine’. Intent on fulfilling these demands connected with his body, he never has time free from his endeavours for desire fulfilment. He never finds time from the service of those whom he calls ‘mine’. How can he ever find time to do anything for anyone else? How can Truth inhere in such souls? They do not even seek to understand what is true.

They can talk knowledgeably about spiritual topics and judge and criticise others – but they cannot see themselves objectively.

Such people take advantage of good associates and exploit them thoroughly; yet they themselves are not willing even to lift a finger to fulfil their obligations towards their mother, father, brothers and sisters etc.

1. Their love is a barter.

2. They use all relationships for selfish gain.

3. Their friendship is motivated by claims over the other.

4. Their service too, is similarly motivated.

5. Their worship is tainted by their claims over the other.

Truth has no place in their lives. Their basic point of view is contaminated with falsehood. Their mind is impure and their behaviour is demonic.

Little one, such people drink the blood of others. They make others work indefatigably for them until their very life ebbs out. This is feeding on the others’ flesh. They then claim the credit of jobs done by others and thus try to establish themselves. This is what is meant by suppressing and devouring others; this is the work of monsters. These are the characteristics of demons. This is the mark of evil.