By the numbers


The Hindu scriptures abound in lists, starting with the six changes that apply to every living being:
1. Birth
2. Subsistence
3. Growth
4. Maturity
5. Decline
6. Death
The fourteen qualities of a good character
1. Knowing about time and place
2. Fortitude
3. Endurance
4. Capacity to think of all consequences
5. Skill
6. Self-defence
7. Keeping one's counsel secret
8. Avoidance of pointless debates
9. Courage
10. Capacity to identify strengths and weaknesses
11. Faith
12. Sheltering those who seek refuge
13. Showing anger at the right time
14. Capacity to steadfastly pursue a course of action

The eight virtues characterizing intelligence, according to the Ramayana, are:
1. Attentiveness
2. Capacity to listen
3. Capacity to grasp
4. Capacity to remember
5. Ability to discriminate
6. Ability to ascertain the truth
7. Deep understanding
8. Capacity to distinguish between good and bad actions

The fourfold strength consists in the capacity to deploy four expedients:
1. Persuasion or conciliation (Saama)
2. Gift or gratification (Daana)
3. Sowing seeds of dissension among the enemy's ranks (Bheda)
4. Use of violence or force (Danda)

Three types of suffering  are:
1. Suffering from oneself
2. Suffering from natural forces
3. Suffering from other beings

The eighteen taints mentioned in the Markandeya Purana that the great sage Markandeya was devoid of:
1. Sleep
2. Lassitude
3. Fear
4. Anger
5. Confusion
6. Pride
7. Insanity
8. Negligence
9. Surprise
10. Doubt
11. Covetousness
12. Malice
13. Envy
14. Insincerity
15. Falsehood
16. Faithlessness
17. Partiality
18. Ignorance

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