Verse 16.7

Verse 16.7: “(Right) activism and (right) abstention, the men of Demoniac disposition do not know; neither is purity, nor (right) conduct, nor veracity found amongst them. (281)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

The mind of such a one is entirely in the deep dark (night) in regard to the realization of the desirability of taking to good actions and abstention from committing sinful acts. An insect shut up in a cocoon has hardly any keen feeling for getting out of it or for reentering into it: or a fool, without considering whether money advanced will ever be returned, delivers his capital over to a thief: in that way the Demoniacal people do not even know either of right activism or abstention, nor do they see even in a dream what purity is like. Coal might (at times) abandon its dark colour; or the crow might even secure white colour (for its complexion); or a monster might even feel sick of meat, but the Demoniac, Oh Dhananjaya, would never have any purity, just as a liquor pot can never have any holiness about it. They never know what it is to feel any liking for the (dictates of the) Scriptures, follow the wishes of the elders and be of good conduct. In the way the sheep go on grazing unrestrained, or the wind blows (according to its sweet will), or the fire goes on burning (unchecked) the Demoniacs behave unrestrained and develop hostility towards the truth.

If a scorpion could ever tickle with its sting, then only these Demons would speak the truth: or if the wind released through the Apana outlet (apānadvāra—anus), be ever fragrant, then only there could be found any veracity in demoniacal persons. Even otherwise without any of these things) they are naturally bad (tempered). Now I tell you about the novel way of their talk. Could there be found a single limb in a camel, that could ever be called decent looking? So are the demoniacal persons (warped and twisted). I shall tell you something about it as the occasion demands. Their words are like the columns of dark and dense smoke that shoot up from the mouth of a chimney. Now I shall tell you about them.