Vedanta Desika, in his Subhasita Nivi, talks of how to deal with those who lack moral conduct, said M.K. Srinivasan in a discourse. If a man is guilty of bad conduct, then it is the duty of his friend and of his ruler to punish him, says Desika. But he says that such punishment must be handed down only if it is proved beyond doubt that the man is guilty of wicked deeds. One who thinks that he can commit a wrong and get away because he belongs to an upper caste is a shameless person. Such people will be shunned by the virtuous. A man may belong to an upper caste, but if he lacks concern for others then none will be well disposed towards him.
When it rains, shallow ponds also get filled with water. But if you step into them the waters get muddied and cannot be used for drinking purpose. Likewise, the company of the wicked too will not yield good results and so the wicked must be avoided. There are some who lack jnana. They are unwilling to strive to achieve anything. There is just one thing that is assured to such people — the virtuous will keep away from them. A sandalwood tree may give shade, but no one sits under it for fear of snakes that might be under it. There may be some things that are attractive, but they may still have some quality that makes us keep away from them. Sandalwood trees fall in this category.
Holy rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna twist and turn as they rush down from the hills because of the ups and downs in their path. Likewise, a good person in the company of bad people becomes deviant himself. Some people may be born in a good family. Yet, they pay no heed to any good advice Like the blue lily, which closes its petals when the Sun appears. Such people too must be shunned.
