Ever regard him as a true saint, brother, who never swerves from the control of his mind and senses, religious observances and correct behaviour and never speaks a harsh word.

They who regard praise and blame as both alike and who claim my lotus feet as their only possession – all such abodes of virtue and living masses of bliss and all such saintly souls are dear to me as life itself.

Hear now the characteristics of sinners, association with whom should be scrupulously avoided; for their company ever brings woe in its train, even as a vicious cow spoils by its company a cow of noble breed.

The heart of the wicked is a consuming fire, which is ever ablaze at the sight of another’s prosperity. Wherever they hear another slandered, they feel delighted as though they had stumbled upon a treasure lying on the road.

Devoted to just and wrath, arrogance and greed, they are merciless, deceitful, crooked and utterly foul. They cherish causeless animosity against everyone and return evil for good.

They are false in their dealings (lying is their stock in-trade); falsehood is their dinner and falsehood their breakfast (whatever they do is intended to deceive others). They speak honeyed words just like the peacock that is ruthless of heart and devours the most venomous snake.

Malevolent by nature, they covet others’ wives and wealth and take delight in slandering others. Such vile and sinful men are fiends in human form.