Vrishchikasya Visham Puchchhe (The Wicked Are Poison All Over) — Benefits & How to Chant
वृश्चिकस्य विषं पुच्छं
Complete guide to chanting correctly for maximum benefit
Benefits of Chanting Vrishchikasya Visham Puchchhe (The Wicked Are Poison All Over)
Sharpens discernment of character and judgement of company
Warns clearly against the all-pervading danger of wicked people
Encourages caution and vigilance in choosing associates
Uses a vivid natural metaphor that is easy to remember and apply
Protects against being deceived by partially harmful appearances
A concise, memorable maxim for prudent dealings with people
How to Chant Vrishchikasya Visham Puchchhe (The Wicked Are Poison All Over)
Instructions
Recite the verse slowly and picture each creature in turn — the scorpion's tail, the fly's head, the serpent's fang — and then the wicked person whose whole being is poison. Reflect on the lesson of vigilance and discernment in choosing one's company. It is traditionally studied among Chanakya's teachings on judging people.
Spiritual Significance
Niti teachers say this verse has spared many from ruin, for one who remembers it keeps watch over the whole conduct of a suspect person rather than trusting a single pleasing trait, and so is not taken unawares by a poison that runs through the entire being.
Origin & History
Source: Chanakya Niti
Author: Chanakya (Vishnugupta / Kautilya)
Chanakya, the strategist behind the rise of the Mauryan empire, prized a keen reading of human character. In this vivid verse he draws on the natural world — scorpion, fly and serpent — to make the point that whereas dangerous creatures bear poison in a single organ, the truly wicked person is dangerous in every limb, and so warrants the greatest caution.