Who is called a fool? 

By Shilpa Shah, Assoc. Professor HKBBA College

No one in the human world likes the word “fool”. If someone calls a person of any age, from a child to an old man, he becomes very frustrated, disappointed and angry because every human being considers himself smart, intelligent and wise. He can never accept that he can also be a fool. Through a deep study of VIDURNITI, it is understood that most of the people in the world fall into the category of fools. That is altogether a different story that they never realize that they are fools and therefore cannot accept it.

The Mahabharata, which has attained the position of an encyclopedia of Indian culture, is our most valuable asset. It contains the best depiction of all the natures of human life. That is why it is said that what is not in the Mahabharata is not in BHARAT (India) either. Among them, three sections of the Mahabharata are of the best quality which includes 1) Vishnunamasahastra 2) Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and 3) VIDURNITI. Every person who wants happiness in life should definitely read VIDURNITI. There is a total of eight chapters of VIDURNITI. In which the essence of all ethics comes. In which why do people not become happy despite working hard for happiness? Who does not get sleep? Who is called a wise man? Who is called a fool? Who is called a miser? Who is called a greedy man? Who is called a true disciple? Who is called a ruthless man? Who is called a true friend? Whose life is considered a failure? Who is a true householder? Many questions like this are answered thus VIDURNITI is the scripture of life-building.

Today, based on it, we will briefly discuss who is called a fool. According to VIDUR ji, the characteristics of a fool are as follows. By studying which we can also observe ourselves to which category we fall and if we can accept that we are foolish then we can definitely try to become wise or sensible. Some of the characteristics of a foolish person are as follows,

1) A person who does not have real knowledge but is very egoistic is a great fool. Those who have not fully understood the scriptures, have not read them, have not understood them, have not put them into practice but who know two or five things about them and constantly boast about them, show off to people, such people are great fools according to VIDUR ji.

2) Those who talk big despite being poor are also foolish. VIDUR ji considers those who talk about lakhs and crores of rupees despite having no money in the pocket or cupboard, not having enough money till the end of the month, making big plans, making big dreams, dreaming dreams beyond their capacity.

3) Similarly, one who tries to become rich through immorality through low deeds is a fool because he does not know that money from immorality can never bring happiness and peace in life. One who wants to become rich by gambling is also a fool. One who has the talent to grab everything like Duryodhana is a fool.

4) One who leaves his own work, that is, leaves his SVADHARMA, and is ready to do the work of others is also a fool. That is, instead of the work that God has entrusted to you, which a person should do according to his personal ability or caste, being attracted to the work of others is a fool. If a rose wants to bloom and become a lotus, is that not called foolishness? If a cow forgets its own ability (self-religion) and tries to become a horse, that is, if it prefers to run in races instead of giving milk, is it not called foolishness? If Sachin Tendulkar leaves cricket and becomes a singer like Lata Mangeshkar, then he is considered foolish. All such examples fall into the category of foolishness. There is suffering in all of our lives because we try to be like others without knowing our own capabilities and qualifications. This is an important characteristic of a great fool.

5) If a person turns to falsehood even for his own friend, then he is a fool, like Karna because falsehood makes life like hell, there is no doubt about it and the person also loses his self-respect. Despite all the good qualities, people do not like him. A person who acts falsely even for some sensitive reason is a fool.

6) A person who insults his loved ones and tries hard to make a stranger close who actually does not love us at all is considered a fool. Frankly speaking, we all spend our entire life in trying to make strangers close, trying to make them happy from whom we expect some personal benefit even by hurting or disappointing our family members. It is from this that the proverb has come that “The child of the house licks the bell and the stranger eats flour” which leads to situations like “Both of the things are spoiled”. Strangers can never become one’s own and there comes a time when one loses loved ones. Therefore, VIDUR ji says that the one who insults loved ones, ignores relatives and wants to make strangers close is a fool. The one who understands that acacia will never give a pleasant fragrance is a wise man. The one who abandons his loved one and goes to make someone else his beloved is considered a fool.

7) Not doing one’s own work is a fool because by not doing the work yourself, a person welcomes many health-related problems. For example, what is the meaning of getting the daily household chores done by a servant and then going to the gym for health? Is it not foolish to pay money to get the household chores done and if that too is not of the best quality, then spending money to exercise for your health by going to the gym? Spending money on your own work that can be done without money and spending money on gym for exercise instead of doing routine household work that can help you achieve natural health, and yet the desired results are not achieved by both, isn’t this called foolishness?

8) A person who procrastinates a lot in any work is a fool. Because he is not capable of making decisions or does not have enough intelligence. Also, laziness is a symptom of a fool. Thoughtful delay in work can be understood. It is true that there is a delay necessary to take the right decision. But the excessive delay in work, where time passes and the work is not done, is considered a symptom of a fool.

9) A householder who does not worship the deity is a fool, according to VIDUR ji. Many obstacles in life keep bothering a person. Planetary diseases, PANOTI, social issues, etc. But the solution to all of them becomes possible through strong faith in the deity. Therefore, VIDUR ji considers a person who does not worship the deity to be a fool.

10) A person who avoids meeting a true friend is also a fool because a true friend is found in life by luck. A person who is careless in maintaining friendship is considered a fool. A true friend is useful in removing many difficulties and obstacles in life, can’t be called a person fool if he does not understand this?

11) A person who goes to a house where he is not welcomed is a fool. Because a person who lives at the risk of his own honor cannot be called a wise person. A wise man never enters someone’s house by just saying “How are you – what’s going on?” etc.

12) Never do something with others that we do not like for our own self. If we do not like someone making fun of us, insulting us, not paying attention to us, then we are considered foolish to behave like that with others.

13) He who constantly runs away from his own responsibilities and keeps on asking or praying God for his every need is foolish. He who relies on God for fulfilling every desire is foolish. He who does not understand that for any work, first effort, then prayer, then necessary waiting and finally the result are the only sequence of success is foolish.

14) He who takes on a task beyond his capacity is called a fool. He who takes on a task after understanding his own strength and capabilities is considered wise.

15) He who insults someone without thinking is considered foolish.

16) He who expects or wishes something that is not his, is considered foolish, he who expects to receive something that is not his, is foolish because through that, a person always invites suffering in life.

17) One who does not trust a saint (i.e. a gentleman) is foolish.

18) He who is patient is called a wise man and a person without patience is considered a fool. He who can hear criticism is wise and he who cannot hear his own criticism is a great fool. Only he who can hear his own criticism can conquer the
whole world. He who does not have such understanding is definitely a fool.

In short, a person with the eighteen characteristics as mentioned above is a fool according to VIDUR ji because in the absence of the above understanding, a person cannot make life meaningful and spends his entire life in suffering. After reading this, if you also feel that some of these characteristics are also in us, then I will definitely suggest that honest efforts should be done to remove it.