Trust your true friends!

Maharaj Yudhisthira asked Bhisma: If a king always mistrusts others, how he will be able to get things accomplished?

In reply Bhisma narrated a story: There was once a very wise female bird called Pujani, who lived in the palace of King Brahmadatta. Pujani gave birth to a male baby bird on the same day as the queen delivered a son. Pujani was very grateful for being able to live under king’s shelter & everyday she would go to the seashore & bring back two fruits-one for her son & other for little prince. The fruit was as nectar & greatly increases the strength of whoever ate it. Thus, the young prince became very powerful as he ate the fruit everyday which Pujani brought

One day, while Pujani was away, the young prince saw her son. The boy began to play with the little bird, but due to his childish proclivities, as the prince held the baby in his hand, he squeezed out its very life

When Pujani came home & saw that her son dead, she became mad with grief. While piteously lamenting, she exclaimed: What a great misfortune that I live with cruel Kshatriyas. They treat one in a very friendly manner just to achieve some objective, but when their aim is fulfilled, they feel no qualms even by injuring the benefactor

Pujani was determined to take revenge for the killing of her son. She went to where the young prince was sleeping & angrily scratched out his eyes with her sharp talons. After blinding her son’s murderer, Pujani felt some relief from the unbearable sorrow that had overwhelmed her. The King witnessed this act of revenge & he considered it to be just punishment for his son’s cruelty

He said: Dear Pujani, pls consider that what you have done is sufficient punishment for my son & continue living here peacefully as before

Pujani replied: O King, the wise have instructed that after injuring someone, a person should never continue residing in his house. One should never place his trust in the person, whom he has injured, even if that person gives very soothing assurances, for animosity is not soon forgotten. Father & mother can generally be trusted as the best of friends, but a wife is merely a vessel in which one plants his seeds & a son is an expansion of that seed. A brother invariably becomes one’s enemy & other friends & companions constantly need to be rewarded if one wants them to be favourable

My dear king: In consideration of how I am the weaker party, I’ll now depart, for a cause of enmity has arisen after a term of friendship

The king argued that he has great affection for Pujani & as she has lived for so long as fiend, the animosity would soon be forgotten

Pujani said: Animosity arises from 5 causes: A woman, land, harsh words, natural incompatibility & injury. Even if it is with a dear friend that hostility arises, one should no longer trust that person as before. Feelings of animosity always lie dormant in the heart, just as fire is within the wood. Once ignited, it can never be extinguished, except by the destruction of the opposing party

Despite fervent request of the King, Pujani did not agree. She said – Knowledge, courage, cleverness, strength & patience are one’s natural friends, companions & possessions are secondary and can be achieved by anyone who has the former. She then left

One is advised to live in a place only for as long as he is respected by all & then depart when there is adversity

Thoughts? #gameoflife