By standing aloof from the sinful, one becomes pure and stainless. However, by being mixed with the sinful, the sinless are punished. Wet wood, if mixed with dry wood, is consumed by the fire for such mixture. The sinless, therefore, should never associate with the sinful.
कश्यप उवाच असंत्यागात् पापकृतामपा स्तुल्यो दण्डः स्पृशते मिश्रभावात्। शुष्णा दह्यते मिश्रभार्वा न मिश्रः स्यात् पापकृद्भिः कथंचित्॥