The saying "when you point a finger at someone, three fingers are pointing back at you" emphasizes the importance of self-reflection. It suggests that judging others can reveal something about your own biases and flaws. Before pointing out the faults of others, take a moment to reflect on your own. It's easy to criticize, but it's more helpful to examine your own behavior and be mindful of your own imperfections. To explain this philosophy in Sanskrit we have following verses :
अन्यमुखे दुर्वादो यः प्रियवद्ने स एव परिहासः
इतरेन्धनजन्मा यो धूमः सोSगुरुभवो धूपः
Anyamukhe durvaado yah priyavadne sa eva parihaasah
itarendhanjanmaa yo dhoomah so-gurubhavo dhoopah.
Durvaad = loose talk
Parihaas = joke
Indhan = firewood
Dhoomah = smoke
Aguru = a herbal compound wehich produces smoke with sweet smell on burning. Incense sticks are made by coating its paste over a bamboo strip.
i.e. What a person considers as loose talk by others, when he himself indulges in such a talk, he considers it as a joke. Similarly smoke produced by burning of wood by others is considered as ordinary smoke but the same smoke if produced by him, he considers it as smoke by burning incense.
The underlying idea is that there is a tendency among persons to justify the wrong doings done by them, whereas the same wrong doing done by others is not liked by them. People often forget their own mistakes while easily pointing out the mistakes of others due to a combination of psychological factors and a desire to maintain a positive self-image.
Justifying wrongdoing can be a way to reduce feelings of guilt or shame associated with having done something wrong. Justifying actions, especially in front of others, can help individuals maintain their reputation and avoid social disapproval.
