Offense!


Draupadi gave vent to her intolerable grief by criticizing Maharaj Yudhisthira for his tolerant & forgiving nature. She would say: Upon seeing us depart from Hastinapur, all but 4 persons had shed tears of grief-Duryodhana, Dushasana, Karna & Sakuni


You & your brothers are most exalted Kshatriyas & deserve royal luxury & comfort. Indeed, from your very childhood you’re accustomed to such opulence. Now that you’re forced to live an austere life in forest due to cunning intrigues of Kauravas, isn’t your anger incited?


Doesn’t your heart burn with rage when you see how your mighty brothers have sunk into ocean of despair? My husbands are quite competent to vanquish their enemies & yet are forced to remain patient just to honor your vow & live a miserable life in forest


Speaking thus, Draupadi would again & again remind Yudhisthira how she was dishonored in Kuru assembly & yet her husbands failed to protect her. She said: How can you pardon Kauravas after seeing your brothers & me suffering? It seems that you’re living refutation of old adage that says, “There is no Kshatriya in existence who is freed from anger” A Kshatriya who doesn’t forgive at proper times & who doesn’t show his prowess when there is need of valor is condemned by people in general & meets destruction


To illustrate this principle, I’ll relate to you a conversation between Prahlāda Maharaj & his grandson Bali. One day Bali approached his grandfather & asked: What is meritorious, forgiveness or the use of strength? I’m puzzled by this question


Prahlāda said: Neither forgiveness nor the use of prowess is meritorious in all situations. If one were to always forgive, then his servants, dependents, enemies & even strangers would disrespect him. When one always forgives, mean-minded servants gradually steal all his wealth & fail to respond to his commands. The wife of one who always forgives comes to act just as she pleases so that, along with servants, she takes to all kinds of vices


On the other hand one who simply punishes & never forgives soon finds himself bereft of friends. Indeed, everyone comes to hate such an unforgiving person & when there is the slightest opportunity they do something to harm him. The conclusion is: Prowess & forgiveness should be exhibited at proper times


My dear Bali-following persons should be forgiven-One who has performed nice service in the past even if guilty of great fault, one who offends simply due to ignorance or folly, a first-time offender & one who has committed some wrong against his will. In addition, other offenders may sometimes be forgiven, just to create a good public image


The following shouldn’t be forgiven-One who has knowingly offended & yet claims to be innocent (such a crooked person should be punished even if the offense is slight) & a second-offender, no matter how small the crime is


Huge learnings & practical wisdom of our scriptures, very much applicable in professional & personal lives


Thoughts? #gameoflife

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