Sant asantanha kai asi karani
Chaupai 4, Under Doha 37 · Uttar Kand
Chaupai Text
संत असंतन्हि कै असि करनी। जिमि कुठार चंदन आचरनी॥ काटइ परसु मलय सुनु भाई। निज गुन देइ सुगंध बसाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saṃta asaṃtanhi kai asi karanī। jimi kuṭhāra candana ācaranī॥ kāṭai parasu malaya sunu bhāī। nija guna dei sugandha basāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning
The conduct of saints and the wicked is like that of an axe and sandalwood. Listen, brother: the axe cuts the sandalwood [because that is its nature and function]; but sandalwood, by its own nature, gives its fragrance and perfumes even the axe.
Context
This is Chaupai 4, Under Doha 37 from Uttar Kand, in the episode “Bharata's Question, Rama's Teaching”. The episode describes Bharata's humble questions via Hanuman and Rama's teaching on dharma, devotion, and the nature of saints and sinners.