śatror api guṇā grāhyā doṣā vācyā guror api |
sarvathā sarva-yatnena putre śiṣye hitaṁ vadet ||
(Mahābhārata: 4.51.15)
“Qualities even of an enemy are to be accepted, and faults even of an elder (guru) are to be acknowledged. With all [due] care one should under all circumstances say that which is beneficial for a son and a disciple.”
prathamaṁ varjayed doṣān yugapat pṛthag eva vā |
tathā dharmam avāpnoti doṣa-tyāgo hi duṣkaraḥ |
doṣa-sākalya-santyāgān munir bhavati mānavaḥ ||
duṣkṛta-tyāga-mātreṇa padam ūrdhvaṁ hi labhyate |
(Mahābhārata: 13.232.5, 8)
“First, one should give up faults, all at once or just one by one. Then, one achieves dharma. Giving up faults [however] is certainly difficult to do. [Yet] By completely giving up faults in totality, a human being becomes a sage. … Just by giving up misconduct, a higher standing is attained.”
para-vācyeṣu nipuṇaḥ sarvo bhavati sarvadā |
ātma-vācyaṁ na jānīte jānann api ca muhmati ||
(Unknown source)
“Everyone is always expert in regard to the faults of others [alt., in commenting on or criticizing others]. They are unaware of their own faults, or, even if they are aware, they are mistaken [about them, as they don’t know how to analyze themselves properly].”
na ca paśyati janmāndhaḥ kāmāndho naiva paśyati |
na paśyati madonmatto hy arthī doṣān na paśyati ||
(Cāṇakya-nīti-darpaṇa: 6.8)
“Neither can one who is blind from birth see, nor can one who is blinded by lust see, nor one can one who is intoxicated by pride see, nor can one who seeks wealth see faults [in one’s actions and their consequences].”
para-vācyeṣu nipuṇaḥ sarvo bhavati sarvadā |
ātma-vācyaṁ na jānīte jānann api ca muhmati ||
(Unknown source)
“Everyone is always expert in regard to the faults of others [alt., in commenting on or criticizing others]. They are unaware [however] of their own faults, or, even if they are aware, they are mistaken [about them, as they don’t know how to analyze themselves properly].”
prabhu bole—bhakta-vākya kṛṣṇera varṇana |
ihāte ye doṣa dekhe, se-i ’pāpī’ jana ||
ihāte ye doṣa dekhe, tāhāra se doṣa |
bhaktera varṇana-mātra kṛṣṇera santoṣa ||
(Chaitanya-bhāgavata: 1.11.105, 109)
“Prabhu said, ‘A bhakta’s statements are descriptions of Kṛṣṇa. One who finds fault in these is a sinful person. … The fault [in this case] is [actually] that of the one who finds fault in these [descriptions of Kṛṣṇa made by a bhakta]. Any description of [i.e., made by] a bhakta is satisfying to Kṛṣṇa [regardless of whether it has faults in it].”
sad-guṇālaṅkṛte kāvye doṣān mṛgayate khalaḥ |
vane puṣpa-phalākīrṇe karabhaḥ kaṇṭakān iva ||
(Subhāṣita-ratna-kośa)
“The wicked search for faults in poetry adorned with good qualities just as a camel searches for thorns within a forest full of fruits and flowers.”
khalo mṛgayate doṣaṁ guṇa-pūrṇeṣu vastuṣu |
vane puṣpa-phalākīrṇe purīṣam iva sūkaraḥ ||
(Unknown Source)
“The wicked search for faults within objects full of qualities just as a pig searches for stool within a forest full of fruits and flowers.”
mṛgayati khalo doṣaṁ na jātu guṇam |
maṇimaya-mandira-madhye paśyati pipīlikā chidram ||
(Attributed to Madhvācārya)
“The wicked search for faults and never for qualities, just as ants look for holes inside a jeweled temple.”
ye matsarā hata-dhiyaḥ khalu te ca doṣaṁ
paśyantu nāgamanyantu guṇaṁ guṇajñāḥ |
ālokayanti kila ye ca guṇaṁ na doṣaṁ
te sādhavaḥ paramamī paritoṣayantu ||
(Attributed to Madhvācārya)
“Those who are envious and witless can only see faults, while those who are cognizant of qualities consider only qualities. Those who see only qualities and not faults are the greatest sādhus, and they can find complete satisfaction.”
