Some hold that sinful wights can never be purged of their sins. In times of difficulty a person by even speaking an untruth acquires the merit of speaking the truth. So a person who performs a sinful act acquires by that very means the merit of having done a pious act. Conduct is the refuge of righteousness. Helped by it you should know what righteousness is.
न च पापकृतः पापान्मुच्यन्ते केचिदापदि। अपापवादी भवति यथा भवति धर्मकृत्। धर्मस्य निष्ठा त्वाचारस्तमेवाश्रित्य भोत्स्यसे॥