No one shall ever associate with a thief, an addict, a hypocrite, a debauch, and a deceit.
No one shall ever associate with a thief, an addict, a hypocrite, a debauch, and a deceit.
Markandeya Purana gives us an extensive list of people, places and situations to stay away from:
1. Those supposed ‘Pundits’ who teach the wrong things and who behave inappropriately (contrary to Vedic laws).
2. Those people who have pride and who are intoxicated with themselves through the progress they have achieved.
3. Those who preach incorrectly, such as fictitious philosophies which are against Vedic laws.
4. Those who are discourteous and immodest.
5. Those of bad conduct.
6. Those who steal.
7. Those who question everything.
8. Those who spend too much.
9. Those who are selfish.
10. Those who hold a grudge and seek revenge.
11. Those who speak lies.
12. Those who are cruel.
13. Those who are strong and powerful.
14. Those who are poor.
15. Those who are slanderous.
16. Those who rely too much on destiny - attitude of being born as a sinner.
Those who associate with these types of people adopt the bad qualities of these persons. Thus all of these qualities are undesirable and so one should never associate with such people. Hansa Gita has explained, ‘Those who associate with or serve a saint adopt the saintly qualities of the saint. Those who serve an unsaintly person (a person with bad and sinful conduct) adopt his unsaintly qualities. Similarly those who serve a Tapasvi (performer of penance) receive the fruits of the Tapasvi and himself exudes the brilliance of the Tapasvi. In this way, man becomes coloured by the nature he associates with.’ The last message in the previous quote amplifies the Gujarati saying - ‘jevu sunga tevu runga’.
Vanaparva of Mahabharat says, ‘Association with inferior people lead to one’s mind also becoming inferior, association with mediocre people leads to oneself becoming mediocre and association with superior people leads to one’s own mind, intellect and self becoming superior.’
Skanda Purana’s Vasudev Mahatmya explains, ‘One’s actions are contrived from one’s association with various Shastras and types of people. Therefore one must never associate with immoral people.’
Manu explains, ‘Those who associate with sinful people must perform the Prayaschit of the sinful person who commits such sin in order to nullify his sin of association.’ Disassociation must be nine-fold, as outlined by Brihaspati: (1) to sleep with, (2) to sit with, (3) to sit in line with (Pankti), (4) to drink with, (5) to eat with in a line, (6) to perform a Yagna with, (7) to learn with, (8) to marry with and (9) to eat with generally. Vidurji explains, ‘Those who do not associate with these various sinful persons are eternally happy and comfortable in life.’ Shatanand also adds that one should not associate with the very ill, as such consequence is also imminent.
Therefore Lord Swaminarayan writes this Shloka to save all his disciples from such consequence of misfortune, sin and misery. He specifies six types of people which he feels are the worst kinds of persons and which cover all undesirable persons. He mentions thieves (Chor), sinners (Papi) and addicts (Vyasanis) which includes all eighteen Vyasanas mentioned by Manu, as well as the drugs such as tobacco, heroin etc. He also mentions people who are unrighteous (Pakhandi) who are bent on worldly and lustful desires (Kami) and who are deceitful (Kimiya).
All such persons have no place in society and so it would be ridiculous for us, devotees of God to associate with them. They are an insult to mankind and we must never associate with these people and become party to their sinful ways.