Apaddharmanushasana Parva — The acts of malevolent person

Yudhishthira said I know what benevolence is, because I have always marked the conduct of good people. I de not, however, know them who are malevolent, nor the nature of their deeds, O Bharata.

Indeed, people always shun malevolent persons of ruthless deeds even as they avoid thorns and pitfalls and fire.

It is evident, О Bharata, that he who is malevolent is sure to be consumed with misery both in this world and in the next. Therefore, O you of Kuru's race, tell me what, in sooth, the acts of such a person are.

Bhishma said Malevolent persons always commit sinful acts and feel an irresistible inclination for doing them. They speak ill of others and are themselves censured. They always consider themselves as cheated of what is their due.

A malevolent person always speaks of his own charitable acts. He sees others with malicious eyes. He is very mean. He is deceitful, and wily. He never pays others their dues. He is haughty. He lives in evil company and is always boastful.

He fears and suspects all with whom he mixes. He is foolish in understanding. He is miserly. He praises his companions. He feels excessive aversion and hatred for all hermits who have retired into the forest.

He finds pleasure in injuring others. He is perfectly careless in marking the merits and faults of others. He is a liar. He is discontented. He is highly covetous, and always acts cruelly.

Such a man considers a virtuous and qualified person as a pest, and thinking every one else to be like himself never trusts any one.

Such a person trumpets the faults of other people however unsuspected those faults might be. But about similar faults in his ownself, he does not refer to them even remotely, for the sake of the advantage he reaps from them.

He considers the person who does him good as a simpleton whom he has imposed upon. He repents for having at any time made any gift of wealth even to a benefactor.

Know him for a malevolent and a wicked person who quietly and alone takes choice foods and drinks even when persons stand by with eager eyes.

He, however, who dedicates the first portion of Brahmanas, and takes the residue, dividing it with friends and kinsmen acquires great felicity in the next world and infinite happiness here.

I have now, O foremost of Bharatas, said to you what the marks are of the wicked and malevolent man. Such a person should always be shunned by a wise man.