Ashtavakra Gita 3.9 -

Character, behaviour and interaction, in a sense, constitute one’s personality. Character is the qualitative make-up one has; behaviour is its manifestation. Interaction goes a step further, involving inter-personal relationships, which are pronounced in human life. Knower has to excel in all these. Only then, he enriches the society by his life and contribution, setting a functional example for others.

Hence Ashtavakra Maharshi incorporates characteral, behavioural and interactional excellences in the Knower, emphasizing that he should be a worthy model for all.

People are amazingly plural in their ways and means. As are good people, so are the bad ones. Some have abundant esteem for Self-knowledge, and they adore the Knowers wholeheartedly. At the same time, there are others who condemn and hate spirituality. They revel in blaming and ridiculing the Knowers. Their response will always be disconcerting. Some will receive and host the Knower festively, regarding it as a great blessing. They relish listening to his words of wisdom. Some others would be bent on disparaging him outright.

Knower has to enlarge his vision to accommodate multiple inputs from all. Seeing the Self everywhere, his mind and intelligence should become broader, purer and more assimilative every time. To be Self-realized is to be infinitely expansive and assimilative. Mind has abundant scope for this. Sky is its limit.