“… many verses promote the view that devotees of God who, by gnãn and vairãgya, have shed mãyik influences and have become brahmarup, still have compassion and affection for God and His devotees. On the other hand, one who is not a devotee of God, and who, by ãtmã-realisation and vairãgya alone, has overcome mãyik influences and behaves as the ãtmã has been influenced during the process of God-realisation by the evil influence of those who have only ãtmã-realisation and are devoid of upãsanã of God. Consequently, he does not develop compassion and affection for devotees of God. Just as a foul smell lingers in the air and in fire, similarly, the impressions of evil company, which cannot be overcome by any means, linger within him.”

[Gadhadã III-3]