Virtue!

The woman said to Kausika: I know that you’ve studied Vedas minutely, but still, you don’t understand true meaning of virtue. You should go to Mithilā city & learn essence of morality from a certain butcher who lives there. He is perfectly truthful, master of the senses, very devoted to his parents & capable to teach real meaning of righteousness. Now, pls forgive me if my words have offended you. After all, virtuous persons never think of punishing a woman

Hearing woman’s remarkable speech, Kausika humbly said: Your words of wisdom have given me great pleasure & my anger has subsided. I honestly feel that your chastisement was meant for my benefit. I’ll go to Mithilā to learn true meaning of virtue

Kausika immediately set out for the long arduous journey to Mithilā. Because the woman mysteriously knew that he had killed a crane, he had full faith in her words. After traversing many forests, he arrived at splendid capital of King Janaka. He saw that all citizens were very healthy & happy. He enquired & reached butcher’s house. There he saw the man, whom the woman had told to meet, sitting in the front yard selling deer & buffalo meat

The butcher saw Kausika & welcomed him. He said: I know how the chaste woman spoke to you & you’ve come here. Kausika was astonished at his words. When he was comfortably seated, he remarked: O meat seller, your cruel profession doesn’t seem appropriate for someone with such a gentle & cultured nature

Butcher said: This has been my family occupation for many generations & so I’m simply performing duty ordained to me by Supreme Lord. As this is my destiny, I know there is nothing to lament. Inspite of my lowly profession, I always serve my superiors, speak truth, eat what is left over after offering my food to God, my dependents, my guests & I’m never envious of others. I sell meat but never kill the animals myself nor do I eat meat

Indeed, I fast entire day & then have my meal at night. O Brāhmanā! Even if one is engaged in an abominable profession, he can still develop all good qualities. The butcher knew that Kausika had come to his him to take instructions on the subject of morality & so he discoursed at length on such topics

He said: Due to pious rule of King Janaka, all subjects are properly engaged in their occupational duties & no sinful act goes unpunished. When the king deviates from execution of his duties according to religious principles then virtue declines within kingdom. Indeed, it is due to such sinfulness on part of king that dwarves, hunchbacks & those who’re deaf, dumb & impotent take birth within his realm

A person who acts sinfully kills his own self. But even if one is devoid of bodily beauty, he can display a sublime inner beauty by never speaking ill of others & avoiding praise of himself. Sinful men sometimes clothe themselves in an external show of virtue, but by doing so they become like a dark well covered by grass. Outwardly such persons seem to possess self-control & godliness & they preach the path of virtue. However, if one gets chance to witness such persons’ conduct, it is seen to be just opposite

One whose heart is naturally inclined towards truthfulness, charity & nonviolence is actually a virtuous person

What great speech from the mouth of Butcher, applicable to all of us

Thoughts? #gameoflife