Leading by example!

As king Dasharath sat in a melancholy mood with his three principal queens absorbed in his thoughts, a messenger came telling him that his chief priest Vasishtha was now present in the assembly hall. Dasharath had been waiting for this news. He rose up and with the gait of a powerful lion went along the wide passageways, his long sword swinging at his side & his gold ornaments jangling as he walked

 Near to the hall he was joined by his chief ministers. All of them were heroes who had been tried in battle, and all were learned and wise. The state ran smoothly under their expert administration. There were no citizens unemployed & no criminals left unchecked. The ministers were devoted to Dasharath’s service & as they walked, they considered the problem facing the king

Flanked by his bodyguards & ministers, Dasharath entered his great hall. It vied in splendour with the assembly hall of Indra, the king of the gods. Massive marble pillars rose up to roof which seemed to reach the sky. Balconies of alabaster & coral, worked with gold filigree, were gradually tiered all around the hall. Along the balconies were gold seats spread with white cushions. Large silk tapestries depicting the pastimes of the gods hung from the walls, which were lined with lapis lazuli and encrusted with jewels

The air was filled with the scent of incense. In the centre of the hall sat numerous priests who continuously chanted prayers from the scriptures invoking the presence of deities. Everyone stood & there was a cry of “Victory! All glories to Emperor Dasharath”. The king appearing like a god, took his seat on a large throne of refined gold bedecked with brilliant celestial gems

A hush descended on the assembly as Dasharath prepared to speak. Everyone sat in expectation. The citizens knew of the king’s worry; they loved him like a father and shared his anxiety. They were grouped in the hall according to their class. At the front sat Brahmins, wearing simple cloth & holding their waterpots and prayer beads. On one side sat the warriors, their powerful bodies clad in silks and gold ornaments, with long swords hanging from their belts. Near to them were the tradespeople in their colourful dress & behind them were the servants & workers, also beautifully adorned. All social classes were represented in the assembly

Dasharath looked around the hall, smiling affectionately at everyone. Although the king was preoccupied with his worry, no one could detect in him the negligence or laxity in his duties. Seeing him smiling at them, the people felt reassured that Dasharath would find a solution to his problem. They sat awaiting his speech

We can all face individual pains and catastrophes, but it should not affect execution of prescribed responsibilities. Krsna says in Bhagvad Gita

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ

sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate

Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

People in general always require a leader who can teach the public by practical behaviour. A leader cannot teach the public to stop smoking if he himself smokes. A teacher should behave properly before he begins teaching. One who teaches in that way is called ācārya, or the ideal teacher. Therefore, a teacher must follow the principles of śāstra (scripture) to teach the common man. The teacher cannot manufacture rules against the principles of revealed scriptures

What example set by King Dasharath

Thoughts? #gameoflife