Those Who Harm Others Receive Honor, and Liars Are Celebrated as Orators
Uttara Kanda, Doha 99
Doha 99 · Movement 2 of 2
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Inauspicious costume, shocking ornament, and disregard for every discipline of food become marks by which Kali's society identifies yogis and perfected beings. What should invite discernment instead attracts worship.
Those who injure others command honor. A person false in mind, action, and speech is celebrated as a great speaker, as though fluent language could purify the intention moving beneath it.
Bhushundi's satire looks past strangeness of appearance to the moral inversion that rewards harm. The problem is not unfamiliar dress by itself, but a culture eager to confuse provocation with realization and eloquence with truth. Once the inward measure disappears, destructiveness can present itself as spiritual freedom, while practiced deceit is applauded for performance. Kali's darkness succeeds by teaching the crowd to bow before the very qualities that deepen its bondage.
The crowd garlands the hand that wounds and calls the polished lie a voice of wisdom.
Read the passage from the Manas
असुभ बेष भूषन धरें भच्छाभच्छ जे खाहिं। तेइ जोगी तेइ सिद्ध नर पूज्य ते कलिजुग माहिं।।98(क)।। जे अपकारी चार तिन्ह कर गौरव मान्य तेइ। मन क्रम बचन लबार तेइ बकता कलिकाल महुँ।।98(ख)।।
Those who wear inauspicious garb and ornaments and eat what should not be eaten, they are considered yogis and perfected beings, worthy of reverence in the age of Kali. Those who harm others, who are wicked, they command respect and honor. Those who are liars in mind, deed, and speech, they are called great orators in Kali's time.