Great men are impartial always and never lose their equanimity. Vedanta Desika gives many examples to show this in his Subhasita Nivi, said M.K. Srinivasan in a discourse. If there is a debate among scholars, such men will listen to both sides of the argument and decide the validity of claims on the basis of merit. The partridge is said to live by imbibing the moon’s rays. The cakravAka bird favours the sun’s rays. But does the sun discriminate against the partridge, because the latter likes the moon? Does the sun favour the cakravAka bird because of the latter’s liking for the sun? In the same way, great men treat all alike.
Different regions of the world have night and day at different times. Also, in some seasons, days are longer than nights and vice versa. But everywhere and in all seasons, a day consists of the same number of hours. In the same way, great men remain the same always, and do not change according to situations. Water evaporates from the ocean and comes back as rain. But neither the evaporation nor the adding of water to the ocean by the rains affect the ocean. It remains the same throughout. Similar is the state of mind of great men. They neither care if someone takes away something for them, nor are they overjoyed if something is returned to them.
Great men help even those who harm them. Desika gives an example to show the nature of such men. We make holes in gems to string them together. Gems retain their quality, despite the holes we drill in them. Likewise, great men disregard the harm done to them and always treat people with kindness. Since great men bear no ill will towards anyone, it is not enough if we just praise them. We must worship them, says Desika.