Sanskrit Quote : Category :: Goodness in bad men

अय:पिण्ड इवोत्तप्ते खलानां हृदये क्षणात्।

पतितापि नेक्ष्यन्ते गुणास्तोयकणा इव॥

English Translation of Sanskrit Quote:

Just as a few drops of water falling on a red hot iron ball disappear (not seen) in a matter of seconds, so also the a few good qualities entering the heart of a villain's heart.

Commentary on Sanskrit Quote:

As I said elsewhere, it is not that a good man is totally good and a bad man is entirely bad. Good and bad things linger in everyone's heart. It is only a wise man who controls the bad in him and exposes the good in him. This couplet taken from the Sharngadharapaddhati from Sharngadhara, explains that in order to matter, good qualities are to be in a considerable measure. Otherwise the goodness of a good guesture is lost. Goodness has to overpower the bad elements in us. Without our knowledge, we pose such a nasty face to the society and still lament that no one recognizes our good. Good people can see through the bad intentions of a man as if through a crystal ball.

Simile happens to be one of the most ancient of the figures of speech. Poets have churned out hundreds of figures of speech in Sanskrit literature. Many of them seem contrived. But the power of Simile seems undying. It is the simplicity that lends such a grace and power to it. That is why the uncrowned monarch of Sanskrit literature, Kalidasa excels and revels in it.

Here, in this couplet, the author compares the hearts filled with bad things to a red hot iron ball. The moment a few water drops fall on it, the water drops evaporate so quickly that one hardly notices any traces of it.

The message is loud and clear. If you want to be a good man, bath yourself in goodness, so the goodness far outweighs the badness in you. That is the only way to purge the unwanted elements in our heart. Either the heat overpowers the coolness of a few drops of water, or the coolness and plentifulness of water cools the iron.