Hallmarks of an enlightened soul

इज्याऽध्ययनदानानि तपः सत्यं धृतिः क्षमा
अलोभ इति मार्गोऽयं धर्मस्याष्टविधः स्मृतः

Doing Yagya, studying Veds, giving alms, austere meditation, speaking truth, being patient, being forgiving, and not being greedy. These are the eight path of Dharm. This is per a Shlok of Hitopadesh.

What elevated this from a list of guidelines of life to principles of life is the second Shlok.

तत्र पूर्वश्वतुर्वर्गो दम्भार्थमपि सेव्यते
उत्तरस्तु चतुर्वर्गो महात्मन्येव तिष्ठति

The first four could be to just show off to the world, but the latter four can only be present in great souls.

So
Speaking truth, being patient, being forgiving, and not being greedy.

These are the hallmarks of an enlightened soul.

Image: AI rendering

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