šŸ˜·Peaceful or PurposefulšŸ¹


Vidura, to illustrate the point that a person who knows the science of morality & yet due to ill motives gives false instruction or remains silent incurs sin, told a story

 

Once there was a quarrel between Virocana, the son of Prahlāda & Sudhanvan, son of sage Angira. Desiring to marry the same girl, both claimed to be superior to the other & thus more deserving of her hand. Finally the quarrel became so heated that Virocana & Sudhanvan wagered their lives as to who was the better man. It was decided that Prahlāda would become the arbitrator of the dispute & so both approached the demon king & inquired: Between us who is the Superior?

 

This put Prahlāda in a very awkward position, for he was afraid of the consequences that might result if he took sides. When Prahlāda hesitated to reply, Sudhanvan became very angry & declared: If you refuse to answer this question, or if you reply falsely, then I curse that your head will be struck by Indrās’s thunderbolt & will burst into 100 pieces

 

Prahlāda went to sgae Kashyap & asked:  What will be my destination if I don’t answer Sudhanvan question, or if I answer falsely?

 

Kashyap replied: If one knows the truth but doesn’t disclose it upon being questioned, or if out of anger, fear or some other motive gives a false reply, he is bound to have 1000 nooses of Varuna & thereafter is released from one of them at the end of each year. If someone commits a sinful act in an assembly, it is the duty of all those present to chastise the wrongdoer. If they fail to do so, the perpetrator of the sin receives 1/4th of the reaction, the leader of the assembly must accept ½ & all others suffer 1/4th of the reaction

 

A witness is one who has seen, heard or otherwise understood a thing & he should always tell the truth. In that way his pious merit will never suffer diminution

 

After hearing this, Prahlāda returned home & informed his son: Sudhanvan is superior to you, just as Sage Angira is superior to me. Because you have wagered your life on this point, you must now become Sudhanvan’s slave, as a consequence of your foolishness. After narrating this Vidura once again urged the assembly to properly reply to Draupadi, but yet all remained silent

 

Huge implications of this story & a huge learning for us indicating our responsibility. All the corporate frauds that happen across the geographies happen not due to courage of few to perpetrate the wrong but timidity of majority. We at times wear the mask of being peaceful rather than purposeful. When there is a great challenge which agitates us with many anxieties & perplexities, we should speak out for principles else our silence due to fear or other ulterior motives has repercussions

 

We all have moments when to choose either to be silent or stand up against injustice

 

Reflections? #gameoflife

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