Never postpone a good deed.

(Stories from Mahabharat)

-- Leena Mehendale

 

Yudhishthir, the nobel and just king of Indraprasth, was known for his truthfulness. A legend went around regarding his childhood days. On the first day of the training, their Guru, Kripacharya asked all the students to get by heart the first and foremost lesson namely, “Satyam Vada “, ie ‘ always speak the truth ”. The next day, all students, except Yudhishthir proclaimed that they had learnt the lesson. But not Yudhishthir! Guru allowed him one more day and then one more and one more……!

 

After many days when Yudhishthir could still not claim to have learned the lesson, Guru was exasperated. He asked, “ People say you are the wisest among all the princes who have come to me for learning. How is it that you cannot get by heart such a small and simple lesson? Why do you need so many days for learning it?”  Yudhishthir replied, “ O revered Guru, you asked that I should get the lesson ‘ by heart’ ! It must go right and deep into my heart and stay there forever. Even when woken up from the deepest slumber, I should speak only the truth. Such is how I understand your order. And unless I have ascertained that even during my worst moments of weekness I would still be speaking the truth, how can I assure you that I have learned the lesson by heart ? O Guru, that would amount to telling you a lie. Nay, I must test myself in adverse circumstances before I could come and report to you that I have learned the lesson. The learning is complete only when one is fully practicing what one claims to have learned.”

 

These words had proven eye –opener to all other disciples and made Yudhishthir the favourite of Kripacharya. That is how truthfulness became a way of life for him. Soon people started saying that even lord Indra would not dare to prove him wrong once he had stated some thing.

 

Such legendary person and the hero of our present story was eventually made the king of Indraprastha by his uncle Dhritarashtra, the emperor of Kuru dynasty, who ruled from Hastinapur. He had deviced this method as he wanted to avoid clashes between Yudhishthir who was the crown prince and his own son Duryodhan who desired and schemed that Yudhishthir be somehow eliminated and he himself should become the crown prince.

 

Yudhishthir himself, being obidient to the elders and a peace- loving person and a very astute ruler preferred this arrangement. He ruled Indraprastha very well and word spread soon that any person in any difficulty could approach him for redressing the difficulty.

 

One day, while Yudhishthir was relaxing with his queen Draupadi, a brahmin came crying loudly and narrated to the king how he needed help for repairing his house. It was a dilapelated house that leaked during rainy days. Now that the rain season was aproaching, this brahmin needed help so that the house could be repaired before the monsoon broke out.

 

Feeling a little lazy to attend to the brahmin, and also sensing that the rains were yet to approach, Yudhishthir pacified the brahmin by promising to give him all the necessary help the next day. The brahmin felt assured. Planning within his mind to come next day, he went away happily.

 

All along, Bheem, the younger brother of the king was watching him.  He did not like how the king failed in his duty of providing immediate relief. However tiny the help might have been, however assured the brahmin might have felt, to Bheem, the king had failed in his duty. It was necessary to make him realise and correct the mstake. How to do so without appearing to be disrespectful to his elder brother?

 

Bheem had great wit and a peculiar sense of humor. He quickly ordered that all the battle drums should be played  immediately and the tune to be played should be one that signifies a magnificent victory over the mightiest enemy.

 

When the victory tunes played, Yudhishthir was very perplexed. Soon he learned that this was being done at the behest of Bheem. He summoned Bheem and asked, “My dear brother, please tell me what victory has been won? Who did we fight against and when? What news have you heard that has been kept secret from me, your own elder brother and the king?”

 

Bheem replied gleefully, “My respected brother, today is the day of great rejoice. You have secured an unparalleled victory. You have conquered none less than Yamraj, the mighty God of Death himself.”

 

“Why do you say so Bheem? I hardly faught any battle today. Pray, tell me how can any mortal ever manage a victory over the God of Death? Have I committed some blunder? Do not speak in such enigmatic language. Tell me quickly, what is all this about.”

 

“Did you not ask the brahmin to come tomorrow? Did you not promise to give him all the help tomorrow? O Yudhishthir, it is said that no words coming from your mouth can ever betray a lie! By promising that needy man to give help tomorro, have you not virtually announced that your life cannot be taken away today, not even by Yamraj? In effect, is it not a statement of victory over him albeit for a small measure of Time, only a day.

 

Nevertheless, a victory is a victory and any person who secures a victory over the Death Lord himself must have to rejoice and celebrate!”

 

Yudhishthir realised his mistake. Never defer a good deed because Death may overtake you before the good deed is done!

 

He thanked Bheem for his wisdom and sense of duty. Then he called the brahmin back and resolved his problem then and there without further delay.

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