Tolerance!

 

As Arjun came to the lake, he saw his twin brothers lying dead. He quickly strung his bow & looked around intently. Unable to see any enemy & being terribly thirsty, he went to take a drink. Once again, the voice declared: You cannot touch this water, for this lake belongs to me! Only if you answer my questions will I give you permission to drink

 

In response, Arjun challenged: I dare you to visibly come here & forbid me. Do so & I’ll give you my answers in the form of deadly arrows. He then picked up his bow & sent torrents of arrows into sky, towards the place from where voice seemed to come. He then paused & the voice said: You shouldn’t waster your time & energy in this way. You can only drink water after answering my questions. If you don’t comply, you’ll die like your brothers

 

Still Arjun disregarded the warning & as soon as he drank some water, he fell dead on the shore

 

Meanwhile, when Arjun did not return, Yudhisthira sent Bhima to search for his 3 brothers. When Bhima came to the lake & saw his 3 brothers dead, he became exceedingly distressed, considering this to have been work of a Yaksa or Rāksasa. While preparing himself to fight, Bhima first approached the lake to quench his burning thirst. Again, the voice ordered the same. But without bothering about it, Bhima drank some water & lay dead

 

Yudhisthira waited for a long time in great anxiety & then set out, his heart burning with grief. As he came to the shore of lake, he saw his brothers lying dead. His worst fears confirmed, he began to wail aloud shedding profuse tears & tried to ascertain cause of his brothers’ death. He decided to quench his thirst first before continuing his investigation

 

As he was about to enter water to refresh himself, a voice once again commanded: This lake belongs to me & you can’t drink water without first answering my questions. If you ignore my warning & try to drink water, you’ll become the 5th corpse lying on ground. I’m a crane living at this lake & it is I who killed your brothers

 

Yudhisthira said: Pls disclose your real identity, for I can’t believe that my heroic brothers can be killed by a mere bird. The voice said: I’m a Yaksa, taking the form of a crane. Yudhisthira saw a huge crane standing on one leg in the middle of water. Effulgent crane roared like thunder & said, you can only drink water after answering my questions

 

Yudhisthira said: I don’t covet this water, since it is the property of another. Still, if you so desire, I’ll answer your questions of my own volition. Yaksa then posed numerous questions & Yudhisthira answered them all very concisely

 

Wisdom wins where strength fails. Strategic submissiveness minimizes the impact of retribution from others. Acceptance of what truly belongs to us & what not saves us from misplaced behavior of appropriation. Blessings come in different forms and same applies to misfortune

 

Let’s not fall to the plot. Tolerance means to accept the dualities of this world without being affected by its joys & sorrows

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  Never Fall down!   Arjun released an Agni weapon that brightly lit up entire sky. Karna invoked a Varuna weapon that quenched the fire by creating clouds with a Vayavya weapon & then released a favourite weapon of Indra that made thousands of arrows issues forth from his G ā ndiva bow   While being pierced all over, Karna countered Aindra weapon with a Bh ārgava weapon & proceeded to kill many of the foremost Pāncāla warriors. Seeing this, Bhima’s anger blazed up like fire. He chastised his brother by saying: O Arjun, how can you allow these great warriors to be killed within your very sight? Please remember how Karna had insulted Draupadi? Give up your indifference & kill him without delay!   Sri Krsna said: Dear Arjun, you must exert your full prowess now, if need be, you can take help from my Sudarshan Cakra!   After momentarily considering the purpose of his appearance in this world, Arjun replied: Lord, with your permission as ...
Read more
Image
  Make or break!   When Salya agreed to drive Karna’s chariot only on condition that he must be allowed to speak freely whatever he likes, Duryodhana and Karna readily agreed & thus a contract was made. Duryodhana flattered Salya by comparing him to Lord Brahmā, who formerly became Shiva’s charioteer at the time of destroying Tripura   Duryodhana concluded his long talk by saying: Dear Salya, Parasurāma delivered the entire science of weapons to Karna. Therefore, we must intelligently conclude that Karna cannot really be a sutā’s son. He must be the offspring of a demigod born in a Kshatriya family & then abandoned at infancy. Otherwise, why would Parasurāma agreed to instruct him in the complete use of weapons?   Salya replied: I have heard on numerous occasions the story of how Lord Brahmā became Lord Siva’s charioteer. You should not place so much faith in your plans, because even if Arjun is killed, Sri Krsna will exterminate the entire Kaurav...
Read more
Image
Grudge-The heaviest thing to hold! Asvattāma hurriedly yoked horses to his chariot & set out, as Krpa & Krtvarma anxiously followed him. He soon arrived at Pāndava camp & saw a gigantic being with enormous head with flames emanating from his eyes, nose, ear & mouth   Asvattāma fearlessly attacked that awesome being with his celestial weapons but failed in all his attempt. He thought to himself: Krpa had warned me that persons who don’t listen to their elders must lament later. The frustration of my attempt must be due to its inherently sinful nature. I wonder who is this astonishing being that has defeated me. Obviously further exertion on my part will be useless until my destiny is favourable. Let me now take shelter of my worshipful Lord Siva & seek his guidance   Asvattāma got down from his chariot & fervently prayed to Lord Siva offering his body, mind & soul. Lord Siva personally appeared & smilingly said: Dear Asvattāma, there is...
Read more