The Bhagavad-gita (16.02) mentions that the godly are averse to faultfinding. Gita wisdom explains the rationale. All of us have a godly side and a godless side. The godly side begets virtues and the godless side, faults. When we delight in finding others’ faults, that delight symptomizes our ungodly mentality which sees only the godless faulty side of others and not their godly virtuous side. Such an ungodly fault-finding mentality makes us not god-conscious, but godlessness-conscious – as do all temptations. Therefore, such faultfinding is nothing but a temptation, hence the need to be averse to it.

Of course, in some real-life situations, faultfinding may not be a temptation; it may well be an obligation. The Gita hints at such situations by enjoining not a ban on faultfinding, but an aversion. Sometimes the faults of others may harm them or those connected with them. So, to help them, we may have to tell them their faults. Or if they are incorrigible, we may have to tell their faults to those who may be otherwise harmed. In intent, this is essentially education, though in content, it may be fault-finding.

Even in such situations, we shouldn’t assume that we are finding faults as an obligation – it may well be a temptation if we delight in it. Moreover, our attitude will inevitably reflect in our words, gestures and expressions. When others detect or even suspect that we are sadistically motivated, they will neglect or reject our attempts to help them and may even become hostile to us.

That’s why we need to pray to Krishna to give us the right words to express the faults of others sensitively, not judgmentally; and to give them the open-mindedness to understand and the willpower to reform. Such a careful and prayerful attitude will increase the likelihood that our faultfinding is not unproductive or counter-productive but productive.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Text 02

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: …aversion to faultfinding… these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature.”