Shloka 10
Yājñavalkya on the Unity of Sāṃkhya and Yoga and the Marks of Meditative Composure
अशुद्ध एव शुद्धात्मा तादृग् भवति पार्थिव । अबुद्धसेवनाच्चापि बुद्धो<प्यबुद्धतां ब्रजेत्
aśuddha eva śuddhātmā tādṛg bhavati pārthiva | abuddha-sevanāc cāpi buddho 'py abuddhatāṁ vrajet ||
वसिष्ठ बोले—हे पार्थिव! स्वभाव से शुद्ध आत्मा भी संग के अनुसार अशुद्ध-सी प्रतीत होने लगती है। और मूर्खों की संगति से बुद्धिमान भी अबुद्धता को प्राप्त हो जाता है।
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Character is strongly shaped by association: even one who is naturally pure or discerning can be made to seem impure or become undiscerning through the company and habits of the unwise; therefore one should seek the company of the wise and avoid corrupting influences.
In Śānti Parva, Vasiṣṭha addresses a king and offers moral instruction. Here he warns that the apparent purity or wisdom of a person can be altered by what they associate with—especially by keeping company with those lacking discernment.