False Renunciates Climb High Seats while Boundless Customs Are Invented
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 98
Doha 101 · Movement 1 of 2
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Those consumed by lust, deceit, delusion, hatred, and possessiveness proclaim nonduality and call themselves wise. They fall from the true path and pull down others who were trying to remain upon it, using false reasoning to condemn scripture.
Renunciation is adopted only after household loss. Heads are shaved, high seats are claimed, and worship is demanded from those once recognized as teachers. Meanwhile, brahmins themselves become unlearned, greedy, lustful, and without conduct, abandoning the responsibility that could have answered the disorder.
Every group invents customs according to convenience, and spiritual authority becomes theater on all sides. Bhushundi does not locate Kali's corruption in one station alone. Unqualified claimants ascend while the qualified betray their calling. Both reversals arise from the same hunger for honor without transformation. The extent of injustice cannot be described because self-invention multiplies faster than any shared measure can correct it.
High seats multiply in the darkness, each occupied by a self-appointed light while the true lamp of conduct is neglected.
Read the passage from the Manas
पर त्रिय लंपट कपट सयाने। मोह द्रोह ममता लपटाने।। तेइ अभेदबादी ग्यानी नर। देखा में चरित्र कलिजुग कर।। आपु गए अरु तिन्हहू घालहिं। जे कहुँ सत मारग प्रतिपालहिं।। कल्प कल्प भरि एक एक नरका। परहिं जे दूषहिं श्रुति करि तरका।। जे बरनाधम तेलि कुम्हारा। स्वपच किरात कोल कलवारा।। नारि मुई गृह संपति नासी। मूड़ मुड़ाइ होहिं सन्यासी।। ते बिप्रन्ह सन आपु पुजावहिं। उभय लोक निज हाथ नसावहिं।। बिप्र निरच्छर लोलुप कामी। निराचार सठ बृषली स्वामी।। सूद्र करहिं जप तप ब्रत नाना। बैठि बरासन कहहिं पुराना।। सब नर कल्पित करहिं अचारा। जाइ न बरनि अनीति अपारा।।
Those who are lustful toward others' wives, deceitful and cunning, entangled in delusion, hatred, and attachment. These very men become advocates of non-dualism and call themselves wise. Such is the character I have witnessed in the age of Kali. They themselves are ruined and also destroy those who follow the path of truth. Those who condemn the scriptures through false reasoning shall suffer in hell for aeons upon aeons. Those who are among the lowest, oil-pressers, potters, outcasts, tribals, fishermen, and wine-sellers. When their wives die and wealth is lost, they shave their heads and become renunciates. They make brahmins worship them and thus destroy the prospects of both worlds. Brahmins become illiterate, greedy, lustful, immoral, and foolish. Those of low birth perform various penances, austerities, and vows, and sitting on high seats, they recite the Puranas. All people create customs of their own invention. The boundless unrighteousness cannot be described.