Mahabharata – An Introduction

,

All the Vedic texts from Ancient India are basically classified into Sruti and Smriti. Sruti is the text that can be heard, Smriti is the text which has to be remembered. The Sruti is the most authoritative text that is believed to have the eternal knowledge transmitted by sages. The Sruti is the foundation of Hinduism. The Sruti includes Four Vedas, which are embedded texts in Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads. Where the Smriti includes Vedangas, Hindu Epics, Sutras, Shastras, Puranas and various Bhasyas.

Vedas, composed in Sanskrit is extremely difficult for the common man to learn and understand. Hence came the Upanishads. Though scholars could understand it, not common man. Therefore, Saint Vyasa composed Puranas, that explains the fundamental principles of life in the form of stories for common man to understand. Still not being happy he finally composed the Itihasa called Mahabharata, which is considered as the greatest epic not only in India but in world literature.  It is a story of love, courage, truth, lies, deceit, selfishness, foolishness, and every other human emotion. It is considered as the Fifth Veda, but for the common man.

Scholars consider that there are three versions of the great Epic. Jaya (Victory) with 8,800 verses attributed to Vyasa is the first version and taught to his students including Vaisampayana. Vaisampayana narrates the story to King Janamejaya with few additions and becomes the Bharata with 24,000 verses. And finally, the Mahabharata as recited by Sauti Ugrashrava to the congregation of Rishis in Naimisharanya becomes what we see today the Mahabharata with over 100,000 verses.

The Mahabharata is one of the greatest works of Sanskrit literature and the longest poem in world literature. It contains countless stories that teach moral lessons or illustrate distinguishing characteristics of the ancients of India. It contains the history of ancient India and all the details of its political, social and religious life. The stories, songs, nursery tales, anecdotes, parables, the discourses and sayings contained in this epic are marvellous and highly instructive. It contains the brilliant records of mighty heroes, warriors of great prowess, deep thinkers, profound philosophers, sages and ascetics and devoted wives of chastity.

At the heart of the story is the conflict over the throne of Hastinapur, a kingdom in ancient India. The blind king Dhritarashtra, who is the eldest of the Kuru dynasty, has a hundred sons known as the Kauravas, led by Duryodhana. The Pandavas are the five sons of Pandu, the younger brother of Dhritarashtra, and they are known for their righteousness and bravery. The eldest Pandavas, Yudhishthira, is the rightful heir to the throne, but due to political manoeuvring and jealousy, the kingdom is denied to them, leading to a bitter rivalry.

The epic culminates in the great war of Kurukshetra, where the Pandavas and the Kauravas face each other in battle. The battle is not just a physical confrontation but also a moral and ethical struggle, with characters facing dilemmas of duty, righteousness, and loyalty. The Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text, is embedded within the Mahabharata and is a conversation between the prince Arjuna and the god Krishna, who serves as his charioteer, on the battlefield, addressing questions of duty and morality.

Ultimately, the Pandavas emerge victorious in the war, but at a great cost. Many of their loved ones, as well as many great warriors, are killed in the battle. The epic concludes with the Pandavas ruling the kingdom and attempting to establish righteousness and justice in the aftermath of the war. The Mahabharata is not just a tale of war and conflict but also explores profound philosophical and moral themes, making it one of the most important texts in Hindu mythology and Indian literature.

The Mahabharata dwells on the aspect of the important goals of a human being in his mortal life. The epic aims at making people realize the relation between the individual and the society and how they both are inter dependent on each other. Everything that is bad and everything that is good reminds us of something in Mahabharata. It showcases human emotions so totally that you need not study anything other than Mahabharata to understand human nature.

Dharma is supreme in this world. Dharma brings material prosperity (artha), fulfilment of wishes (kama) and final liberation (moksha). It is surprising that people do not pay attention to the need for practice of dharma, when everything can be achieved through it. The story culminates in moksha, believed by Hindus to be the ultimate goal of human beings.

Mahabharata starts with the sloka

“nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtya naraṁ caiva narottamam

devīṁ sarasvatīṁ vyāsaṁ tato jayam udīrayet”

Narayana and Nara, the divine and the human, their personal encounters and discussions of dharma, artha, kama and moksa, are to be found here. It is a veritable encyclopedia and it carries this verse about its own scope. It is said that what is found here may be found elsewhere but what is not found here cannot be found elsewhere.

/1 Comment/by

10 types of Purifications

10 types of Purification

1. Body gets purified by Water and Yoga

2. Breath gets purified by Pranayama

3. Mind gets purified by Meditation

4. Intellect gets purified by Knowledge

5. Memory gets purified by Thinking and Introspection

6. Ego gets purified by Selfless Service.

7. Self gets purified by Silence

8. Food gets purified by Positive thoughts while cooking and eating

9. Wealth gets purified Donation

10. Feelings gets purified by Love and Surrender

/0 Comments/by

Discussions between Nahusha and Yudhishthira

 

Q1 – O Yudhishthira, Who is a Brahmana and what should be known?

Yudhishthira said, he in whom are seen truth, charity, forgiveness, good conduct, benevolence, observance of the rites of his order and mercy is a Brahmana. And, that which should be known is the supreme Brahma, in which there is neither happiness nor misery.

Q2 – ‘O Yudhishthira, truth, charity, forgiveness, benevolence, benignity, kindness and the Vedas which work for the benefit of the four orders of society, which is the authority in matters of religion and which is true, are seen even in the Sudra.

“Yudhishthira said, those characteristics that are present in a Sudra, do not exist in a Brahmana; nor do those that are in a Brahmana exist in a Sudra. And a Sudra is not a Sudra by birth alone-nor a Brahmana is a Brahmana by birth alone. He, in whom are seen those virtues is a Brahmana. And people term him a Sudra in whom those qualities do not exist, even though he is a Brahmana by birth.

Q3 – O king, if you recognize him as a Brahmana by characteristics, then, the distinction of caste becomes futile as long as conduct does not come into play.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘In human society, it is difficult to ascertain one’s caste, because of promiscuous intercourse among the four orders. This is my opinion. Men belonging to all orders (promiscuously) beget offspring upon women of all the orders. Therefore, the wise have asserted that character is the chief essential requisite. He is considered as a Sudra as long as he is not initiated in the Vedas. Therefore whosoever conforms to the rules of pure and virtuous conduct, he alone is designated as a Brahmana.’

Q4 – Yudhishthira asked to Nahusha – ‘In this world, you are so learned in the Vedas, tell me what one should do to attain salvation?’

Nahusha replied, my belief is that the man who bestows alms on proper objects, speaks kind words and tells the truth and abstains from doing injury to any creature goes to heaven.’

Q5 – Yudhishthira enquired, ‘Which is the higher of the two, truth or alms-giving? Tell me also the greater or less importance of kind behavior and of doing injury to no creature.’

Nahusha replied, ‘the relative merits of these virtues, truth and alms-giving, kind speech and abstention from injury to any creature, are measured by their objective utility. Truth is (sometimes) more praiseworthy than some acts of charity; however at times the latter again are more commendable than true speech. Similarly, abstention from doing injury to any creature is seen to be important than good speech and vice-versa.

Q6 – Yudhishthira asked how the human being’s translation to heaven or hell can be comprehended.

Nahusha replied, ‘By his own acts, man is seen to attain to one of the three conditions of human existence, of heavenly life, or of birth in the lower animal kingdom. Among these, the man who is not lazy and inactive, who injures no one and who is endowed with charity and other virtues goes to heaven. By doing the very contrary, people are again born as men or as lower animals. Man who is swayed by anger and lust and who is given to avarice and malice falls away from his human state and is born again as a lower animal.

Q7 – Yudhishthira asked, tell me truly and without confusion how that dissociated spirit becomes cognizant of sound, touch, form, flavor, and taste.

Nahusha replied, know that the senses, the mind, and the intellect, assisting the soul in its perception of objects, are called Karanas. The eternal spirit, going out of its sphere, and aided by the mind, acting through the senses, the receptacles of all perceptions, successively perceives these things (sound, form, flavor, etc.). The mind of living creatures is the cause of all perception, and, therefore, it cannot be cognizant of more than one thing at a time.

Q8 – “Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me the distinguishing characteristics of the mind and the intellect.

Nahusha replied, ‘Through illusion, the soul becomes subservient to the intellect. The intellect, though known to be subservient to the soul, becomes (then) the director of the latter. The intellect is brought into play by acts of perception; the mind is self-existent. The Intellect does not cause the sensation (as of pain, pleasure, etc.), but the mind does. This is the difference between the mind and the intellect.

Q9 – “Yudhishthira said, ‘O most intelligent one, you have fine intelligence and you know all that is fit to be known.  Then how could illusion overpower you?

Nahusha replied, ‘Prosperity intoxicates even the wise and valiant men. Those who live in luxury, (soon) lose their reason. Overpowered by the infatuation of prosperity, many fall from their high state. Truth, charity, self-restraint, penance, abstention from doing injury to any creature, and constancy in virtue, and not his race or family connections, are the only means, by which a man can secure salvation.

/0 Comments/by

Rama and Krishna – a comparison

Rama and Krishna – a comparison

Sri Rama and Sri Krishna are the two most widely worshipped Gods in Hinduism. Both are considered to be “Poorna” avatars of Lord Maha Vishnu.

The main purpose of the Rama avatar was to destroy Ravana, the Asura (Demon) King, while the principal aim of Krishna’s avatar was to convey the supreme message of the Bhagavad Gita, to vanquish evil and bring back justice and righteousness to humankind.

Rama is seen as an epitome of righteousness and the most sought-after virtues in life, while Krishna is shown as mischievous and romantic as a youngster. Rama personifies the characteristics of an ideal person (purushottama) who is to be emulated. He had within him all the desirable virtues that any individual would seek to aspire, and he fulfils all his moral obligations (maryada). Rama’s purity and piety in his intentions and actions inspires affection and devotion for him from a variety of characters from different backgrounds.

1. Rama was born in the palace while Krishna in the jail.

2. Rama was born during midday and Krishna at midnight.

3. Rama was born on Navami, (number 9) while Krishna was in Astami (Number 8).

4. Rama was born in Ayodhya while Krishna in Mathura.

5. Rama belongs to solar dynasty and Krishna in Lunar dynasty.

6. Rama was born in Treta Yuga as the seventh avatar of Rama while Krishna was born in Dwapara yuga as the eighth avatar and eighth son of Devaki and Vasudeva.

7. Rama is the first son of his father while Krishna is the eighth and last son of his father.

8. Rama is the eldest and Lakshman, an avatar of Sheshnag was his younger brother whereas Krishna is the youngest and Balarama, the avatar of sheshnag is his elder brother.

9. Rama had an elder sister while Krishna had a younger one.

10. Rama’s childhood was in the palace while that of Krishna was that of a cowherd.

11. Rama had only one wife while Krishna had eight.

12. Rama had to win a challenge to win his wife while Krishna married comparatively easily except his first wife Rukmani whom he had to abduct which was followed by a war.

13. Rama never had a happy married life while Krishna celebrated his married life equally with all his wives.

14. Rama had to go to forest for 14 years with his wife while Krishna went to forest to see his cousins who were destined to live there for 12 years.

15. Rama lived a king and ruled the kingdom for many years while Krishna was never the king but always the kingmaker.

16. Rama killed Bali while Bali killed Krishna in his next birth.

17. In Ramayana Sri Ram asks Lakshmana to visit the dying Ravana to get his wisdom in politics and Dharma while Krishna asks Pandavas to visit the dying Bhishma to get his wisdom before death.

18. Sri Rama had 2 sons while Krishna had 80, ten each from his eight wives.

19. When Rama was dejected Guru Vasishta gives him moral advice in the form of “Yoga Vasishta”. Whereas it is Krishna who advices the dejected Arjuna by way of “Bhagavad Gita”.

20. Rama kills Rakshasas as Guru Dakshina while Krishna brings back to life the dead children of his Guru as his dakshina.

21.  Rama never displayed any divine powers while Krishna displayed it on many occasions. (like lifting Manthara mountain, etc)

22. Rama fought the war himself to kill Ravana but in Mahabharata Krishna was the charioteer to Arjuna.

23. Tara, wife of Bali, cursed Rama that he will never live with his wife peacefully and will lose her soon after gaining from Ravana as well as her husband will be responsible for his death in his next life. Gandhari cursed Krishna that in 36 years he and his family will be destroyed. Krishna was killed by a hunter who actually was the rebirth of Bali.

24. Rama never killed any of his relatives while Krishna killed his uncle.

25. Rama is depicted generally with a bow and arrows indicating that he is a king while Krishna is generally depicted as a cowherd.

26. Lord Rama sends Angad as the peace envoy before the war while Krishna himself went as the peace envoy before the Mahabharata war.

27. Rama’s Weapon is Bow and Arrow while Krishna’s is sudharsana Chakra

28. Lakshmana participated in the war while Balarama went on a pilgrimage during the war.

29. Krishna is always smiling and one can hardly see him crying. While there were many occasions where Ram cried like when Sita was abducted or Lakshmana was nearly killed in the war.

30. Kuni (Manthara) is the base for Ramayana while Sakuni is for Mahabharata.

31. Rama always followed Dharma, even in war while Krishna made his own interpretation of Dharma and twisted it on many occasions during the war.

32. The incident in which Rama allowed the disarmed and helpless Ravana to go home, take rest and come again the next day to continue the fight instead of seizing the opportunity to do away with him instantly shows the magnanimity and dharmic traditions of Rama. Whereas killing of Bhishma, Drona, Karna and Duryodhana were all not as per the strict moral and dharmic code prevalent in those days.

33. Rama destroyed ‘ARISHADVARGA’ the demons representing the inner six-fold enemies of: kaama, krodha, lobha, moha, madha and maathsarya (Anger, Lust, Greed, Infatuation, Pride and Jealousy).

34. Krishna stands for the HARISHADVARGA the six-fold divine qualities of spiritual Wisdom, supreme detachment, great valour, forgiveness, righteousness and incomparable fame.

35. Both Ram and Krishna shows extreme selflessness when it comes to material possessions. Rama easily gave up his throne to honour his father’s words. He could have easily taken over Lanka and kishkinda as he won the war but installed Vibhishana and Sugriva as kings. Krishna won many wars including the Mahabharata war but never became king anywhere. He installed rightful persons each time including when he killed his uncle Kansa.

36. Rama’s father died while he was young while Krishna’s father lived beyond Krishna.

/0 Comments/by

Joy and Sorrows of Human beings

Excerpts of discussions between two sages in Mahabharata. While reading, please consider the fact that this was written 5000 years ago and how relevant it is even today!

What are the sorrows of human beings?

Plentiful instances of misery and woe are seen among men in this world! Life with persons that are disagreeable, separation from those that are agreeable and beloved, companionship with the wicked, these are the evils which human beings have to bear. The death of sons and wives, of kinsmen and friends, and the pain of dependence on others, are some of the greatest of evils. There is no more pitiable sight in the world than that of poor men being insulted by others. The acquisitions of family dignity by those that do not have it, the loss of family dignity by those that have it, are noticeable by all. How they that have no family dignity but have prosperity try to get what they want with their wealth.  What can be more pitiable than the calamities and reverses sustained by the gods! Good families suffer due to the actions of ill-born and the poor are insulted by the rich. What can be more pitiable than these? Innumerable examples of such contradictory dispensations are seen in the world. The foolish and the ignorant are cheerful and happy while the learned and the wise suffer misery!

What the joys of good people?

Earned by his own efforts, without having to depend upon any one, he who eats even fruits and vegetables in his own house is entitled to respect. He who eats in another’s house the food given to him in contempt, even if that food be rich and sweet is despicable. If after treating guests and servants and offering food to the forefathers a good person eats what remains, there can be nothing happier than that.

/0 Comments/by

Duties of a Manager – lessons from Mahabharata

Duties of a Manager – lessons from Mahabharata

The Manager should always put in serious efforts with promptness, because without promptness of action, mere destiny or fate alone never accomplishes the objectives set forth. Though hard-work and destiny are equal in their operation hard-work alone is superior. Do not indulge in grief if what are commenced ends disastrously, for you should then exert yourself in the same act with redoubled attention.

There is nothing which contributes so much to the success of managers as Truth and honesty. The manager who is devoted to Truth remains happy. There is nothing that so much inspires confidence in them as Truth and honesty. The manager, who is possessed of every accomplishment and good behaviour, who is self-restrained, humble, and righteous, his passions under control and not too enquiring, never loses wealth and prosperity.

By administering proper justice, as also by the observance of conduct that is straightforward, the manager, obtains success and prosperity. If the manager becomes mild, everybody disregards him. On the other hand, if he becomes fierce, his employees then become troubled.

There is no treasure more valuable to the managers than that which consists in the selection and assemblage of teammates. Among the six kinds of citadels indicated in the scriptures, that which consists of the team who are committed, dedicated and hardworking is the most impregnable. Therefore, the wise manager should always show compassion towards all his subordinates. The manager who is of righteous soul and truthful speech succeeds in gratifying his team members. However one must not behave with forgiveness towards everybody, for the manager that is mild is regarded as the worst of his kind like an elephant that is bereft of fierceness. If the manager happens to be always forgiving, the lowest of persons prevails over him, including his driver. The manager, therefore, should not always be mild. Nor should he always be fierce. He should be like the morning Sun, neither cold nor so hot as to produce perspiration.

A Manager should not be addicted to things like alcoholism, drugs, smoking, etc. It is not necessary that one should never indulge in them but never be attached to them.  The manager who cherishes no love for his people inspires the latter with anxiety. The manager should always bear himself towards his team as a mother towards the child of her womb.

The Manager should never abandon fortitude. The manager that is possessed of fortitude and who is known to inflict punishment on wrong-doers has no cause of fear. The manager should not overindulge in jokes with subordinates. If you mingle too freely, some of them might start disregarding you. They forget their own position and most truly transcend that of the boss. Ordered to do a thing, they hesitate, and may ask for things that should not be asked for. They go to the length of displaying their wrath and seek to outshine the leader. They even seek to predominate over the manager, and by accepting bribes and practising deceit can obstruct the business of the company. They can cause the organization to rot with abuses by falsifications and forgeries. Some of them can become so shameless as to gossip about the manager with flippancy before others. If the manager becomes angry, they laugh; nor are they gladdened if favours be bestowed upon them, though they may express joy for other reasons. They disclose the secret counsels of their boss and murmur his evil acts and at times openly defy the orders of the Manager.

The manager should always be ready for action. Must always focus on the betterment of the organization and the team members and do everything at his command to achieve that objective.  The happiness of their team, observance of truth, and sincerity of behaviour are the eternal duty of managers. The manager should always credit others for the success and take responsibility for the failures. If the manager is competent, honest, and forgiving he would always be successful. He should always pursue business with morality and ethics. It is the eternal duty of managers to prevent confusion of duties and reporting structures in organizations. He should, by his own intelligence, look after the merits and defects of the six essential requisites of the company. The manager, who is observant of the strategies of competitors and judicious in the pursuit of business with morality, has excellent market intelligence and seeks to wean away the officers of major competitors, deserves applause. The manager should administer justice like Yama and amass wealth like Kubera. He should also be observant of the merits and defects of his own operations and team members. Manager should take care of all his team members in good and bad times without delay or procrastination. The manager should himself be skilful in the main function of the organization and should have his emotions under control. He should dress himself properly and elegantly and be of good behaviour. The manager desirous of achieving success should always hire men who are qualified, knowledgeable, experienced, competent, committed, dedicated and always observant of their duties, honest, and steadfast like mountains. His conduct towards his team, before or behind, should always be the same. The manager who behaves in this way never comes to grief. That crooked and covetous manager who suspects everybody is soon deprived of position by his own subordinates. That manager, however, who is of righteous behaviour and who is ever engaged in attracting the hearts of his people, never sinks when situation turns bad. If overcome, he soon regains his position. If the manager is not wrathful, if he is not addicted to evil practices and not severe in his punishments, if he succeeds in keeping his passions under control, he then becomes an object of confidence. He is the best of managers who has wisdom, who is possessed of liberality, who is ready to take advantage of the weakness of his competitors, who has agreeable features, who is prompt in action, who has his anger under control, who is not vindictive, who is high-minded, who is not short-tempered by disposition, who is righteous and spiritual, who is not given to boasting, and who vigorously pursues all works commenced by him to completion. He, indeed, is an excellent manager whose team-members are engaged in their respective duties and do not hesitate to work 24×7 when duty calls for it; whose people, protected duly, are all of peaceful behaviour, obedient, docile, compliant, unwilling to be engaged in disputes, and inclined to liberality. That manager truly deserves respect who honours knowledge, who is devoted to the good of his people, who tread in the path of the righteous, and who is liberal.

By all means the Manager must employ the best talent available for a given function by offering market determined salaries and benefits taking due consideration internal and external equity.

The manager should never disregard any competitors even if they are small or weak. In this age industrial espionage one should be extremely careful about moles within the organization. A spark of fire can produce a conflagration and a particle of poison can kill. Keep one’s eyes and ears open to detect any leak of confidential information, business secrets or strategic and tactical initiatives of the company. However he should act righteously while conducting internal inquiry to ensure sincere and committed employees are not subjected to undue harassment. Managers, therefore, should always conduct with both candour and crookedness to ensure his organizations interests are always protected.

‘There are these twenty-six virtues (which a manager should observe).

  1. The manager should manage his team without anger and malice.
  2. He should never abandon kindness.
  3. He should have faith in his team.
  4. He should achieve success without harassment and cruelty.
  5. He should lead from the front.
  6. His words should be measured and not hurtful to others.
  7. He should be liberal but should not make gifts to persons who are undeserving.
  8. He should exercise his authority with kindness.
  9. He should hire, train and retain the best for any given function.

10. He should not act with hostility towards teammates.

11. He should always employ persons who are competent or committed and not for any other reasons.

12. He should never accomplish his objectives by harassment.

13. He should never, discuss strategies before persons with suspected loyalty.

14. He should speak of the merits of others but never his own.

15. He should reward those who deserve as soon as such acts are noticed.

16. He should never employ or take the assistance of persons that are immoral.

17. He should never inflict punishment without careful enquiry.

18. He should repose confidence on others but never on those that have injured or deserted him in the past.

19. He should not cherish malice.

20. He should be pure and should not always be melted by compassion.

21. He should take good care of his body by proper food, exercise and rest.

22. He should without pride pay regards to those that deserve them, and serve his seniors with sincerity.

23. He should seek success, but never do anything that brings infamy to the company, team or self.

24. He should be clever in business but should always wait for the right opportunity.

25. He should comfort men and never send them away with empty speeches or false promises.

26. Avoid nepotism and favouritism, only performance and commitment should be the guiding factor.

/0 Comments/by

Cause of misery and 8 ways to overcome.

The gods first deprive that man of his reason on whom he sends defeat and disgrace. It is for this that such a person sees things in a strange light. When destruction is at hand, evil appears as good and the understanding is polluted by sin, and the man adheres to it firmly. That which is improper appears as proper, and that which is proper appears as improper unto the man about to be overwhelmed by destruction, and evil and impropriety are what he likes.

Causes of misery and eight ways to overcome it –

a. Disease, contact with painful things, toil and want of objects desired – these are the four causes that induce bodily suffering.

b. Diseases may be cured by the application of medicine, while mental ailments are cured by seeking to forget them through yoga and meditation. For this reason, sensible physicians first seek to allay the mental sufferings of their patients by pleasant conversation and the offer of desirable objects.

c. And as a hot iron bar thrust into a jar makes the water therein hot, even so does mental grief bring on bodily agony. And as water quenches fire, so does true knowledge allay mental disquietude. And the mind attaining ease, the body finds ease also.

d. Clearly affection is the root of all misery and fear. The man who is influenced by affection is tortured by desire; and from the desire springs his thirst for worldly possessions. To many the wealth they own is their bane, and he that beholding happiness in wealth becomes wedded to it, and does not understand what true happiness is.

e. Wealth alone is the root of miserliness and boastfulness, pride and fear and anxiety! These are the miseries of men that the wise see in riches! Men undergo infinite miseries in the acquisition and retention of wealth. The thirst of wealth can never be assuaged.

Contentment is the highest happiness and the eight attributes which is capable of providing contentment against all evils are  renouncing of Abhimana (pride, ego), performance of sacrifices, study (of the Vedas and scriptures), gifts, penance, truth (in both speech and act), forgiveness, subduing the senses, and renunciation of desire. These have been declared to be the eight cardinal duties constituting the true path as per Vedas.

/0 Comments/by

Anger

Anger

Anger is the root of all prosperity and all adversity. A person who suppresses his anger earns prosperity and reaps adversity from his fierce anger. It is seen in this world that anger is the root cause of destruction of every creature. The angry man commits sin, insults his superiors in harsh word and fails to distinguish between what should be said and what should not. There is no act that an angry man may not do, no word that an angry man may not utter. From anger a man may even kill one that should not be killed. The angry men do not see things in their true light and drives off his patience. The mind cannot be kept under control when it is influenced by anger, arrogance, vanity, or pride. Therefore it is mandatory for all those who are desirous of peaceful and prosperous life to control their anger.

A weak man can cause his own destruction by getting angry towards those who are strong and powerful.  However a wise man controls his anger and forgives those who are the cause of his suffering, if they are strong and powerful.  It is generally understood that an honest and forgiving man is always successful. Truth is more beneficial than untruth; and gentleness better than cruel behavior. The man who has the ability to control anger acquires with ease, generosity, dignity, courage, skill, and other attributes belonging to those with good character. A man by forsaking anger can exhibit proper energy, whereas, it is highly difficult for the angry man to exhibit his energy at the proper time! The ignorant always regard anger as equivalent to energy.

The man, who wishes to behave properly, must always forsake anger. A wise and excellent person who has conquered his anger and who shows forgiveness even when insulted, oppressed, and angered by a strong person attains greatness in this world.

/0 Comments/by