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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Mighty men who kept their word

 

CHENNAI, JUNE 16. There are bound to be situations when a person

who sincerely upholds the Law of Righteousness and zealously

obeys the commands therein, may be forced or tempted to break

them or gives scope to yield to changes in them, which will mean

that his determination to abide by them becomes futile. Gods in

Heaven will shower their grace on anyone who remains firm in his

resolve, come what may. Our holy texts are full of instances

where mighty men refused to go against their vows.

 

In the Ramayana, one of the sages tells Rama to return to the

capital giving up His forest life (while in exile) since His

father was dead and the word given to him was no more valid. The

Lord's (in human form) panegyric on Truth at that time is

memorable (The sage was not unaware of the law but his desire was

to induce Him to give up His pledge). ``The person who

transgresses the norms of virtue, indulges in sinful practices

and propagates ideas repugnant to the declarations in the Vedas

will not be honoured by pious souls.'' Another unforgettable

character was Harischandra whose sacrifice has no parallel and

who did not go back on his word even when reduced to the state of

utter despair. The Lord assumed a strange form and presented

Himself to save the child and honour his words as the latter

believed that God exists everywhere and will appear when a

devotee is in distress. In the Mahabharata too, Bhishma declined

to budge from his terrible vow to remain a celibate throughout

his life, even going against the orders of his stepmother. In her

discourse, Srimathi Prema Pandurang referred to several instances

of Bhishma being faced with challenging situations and his

refusal to give a go-by to his pledge. He had arranged for many

marriages, attended many funerals and fought battles but stood

firm when he was compelled to deviate from the Law. In a baffling

situation, he had to defy his teacher to keep up his word under

an extraordinary threat he was confronted with by a woman, but he

stood firm on his ground. This incident reminds parents not to

force a girl to marry a person against her wish but get her full

consent. ``Horoscopes may tally but what is important is that

hearts should agree''.

 

When a suggestion which seemed to be preposterous was made by his

stepmother, Bhishma was aware that a rule like the one she had

pointed out existed and that custom too had lent its approval to

it, yet he told her of his oath that in this life of his, there

was no place for a woman. ``I will never swerve from the path of

Truth, which for me is greater than all promised rewards of

heavens. Nothing can move me, you do not know the strength of my

mind,'' he said.

 

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