New Delhi, Feb 23 (UNI) President APJ Abdul Kalam began his customary address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on the opening day of the Budget Session today with the recitation of poetry in Hindi emphasising righteousness.

Speaking in Hindi, the President said he would like to share with the members of Parliament his experience of a divine centre he visited, where recitation of a poetry was being made. ''I have prepared a Hindi rendering of the poetry for you,'' he told the MPs.

Mr Kalam said the recitation concerned righteousness which meant ''Sadachar'' (true conduct). ''It tells us how noble thoughts of the mind bring about orderliness in the country, which, in turn, leads to world peace.'' ''I thought before I began my address (to Parliament) I should read out the lines to you,'' the President said and quoted the lines- ''Sadachari vyakti ka charitra nischhal hota hai, Niscchal charitra se ghar me mel milap rahta hai Ghar me mel milap se desh vyavasthit hota hai Vyavasthit desh se vishwa me shanti ati hai.'' Rendered in English, it means the character of a man with righteousness is without any blemish, blemishless character leads to harmony in house, harmony in the house leads to orderliness in the country and orderliness in the country leads to world peace.

UNI