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DISCOURSE 61
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he released her from the clutches of the robbers after killing them. The minister brought her home; but did not utter a single word of rebuke. He did not get angry with her; nor did he remind her of the past. She fell at the feet of her husband; and wept bitterly. She begged him to forgive her blunders; and vowed never to slight him in the future. The minister also pardoned her with a plain heart. A very good change came about in her life. She gave up her irritability. In the Shastras, she is called Achunkari Bhatta. When she discarded her defects, she attained peace and felicity in life. When she acquired such virtues as patience and politeness she experienced felicity and serenity in life.
IF YOU WANT TO ACQUIRE VIRTUES, ASSOCIATE WITH NOBLE PEOPLE
From the Audience : She, of course, was fortunate in having a noble husband.
Maharajashri : You too can be noble husbands; can't you ? You can be noble fathers; can't you? You can be virtuous friends. You can be virtuous devotees. Let your contact with others function like the contact of Parasmani (the philosopher's stone). Let your contact ennoble others just as the Parasmani makes any base metal gold by its touch. Become noble and virtuous. In this age, there is a great dearth of virtuous people.
In order to become noble, associate with people who are noble in thought and conduct. Do not associate with people who are noble in thought but who are not noble in conduct and action. In the same manner, you should not associate with people whose outward conduct and actions are noble but whose thoughts and feelings are ignoble. Associate with those noble men whose thoughts as well as conduct are noble. : The Acharya Shri exhorts people not to associate with those who gamble; who drink wine; who eat meat; who develop illicit intimacy with other women and who commit sins like stealing. The Acharya Shri who has written a commentary on this grantha says:
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