प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः | न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते || ७ ||
pravṛttiṁ ca nivṛttiṁ ca janā na vidur āsurāḥ na śaucaṁ nāpi cācāro na satyaṁ teṣu vidyate
pravṛttim—proper action; ca—also; nivṛttim—renunciation; ca—and; janāḥ—persons; na—not; viduḥ—know; āsurāḥ—of demoniac quality; na—never; śaucam—cleanliness; na—nor; api—also; ca—and; ācāraḥ—behavior; na—never; satyam—truth; teṣu—in them; vidyate—is found.
“Those of demoniac nature do not know what to do and what to refrain from. Neither purity, nor proper conduct, nor truth is found in them.”
The root of the demoniac character is ethical confusion—an inability or unwillingness to distinguish between what should be done and what should be avoided. When a person has no clarity about dharma, cleanliness and good conduct become mere social performance, and truthfulness becomes a tool deployed only when convenient. This confusion is itself the primary symptom of the demoniac orientation.
Ethical clarity—knowing clearly what is right action and what is not—is a spiritual practice, not just a moral one. Regular reflection on your choices (journaling, ethical review at day's end) cultivates this clarity over time. When you are unsure, the question 'What would a wise, compassionate person do here?' is more reliable than 'What do I feel like doing?'