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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

God will not tolerate flouting of moral law

 

CHENNAI, JULY 31. Uncontrollable anger, acts of discrimination

and the tendency to get disputes settled by show of force are

some of the characteristics seen among a few, irrespective of

their status in life or nobility of birth or their achievements

in different fields. In a momentary impulse, unmindful of the

consequences and also of the methods adopted, they will start

attacking others. The author of the Mahabharata mentions how a

warrior of repute indulged in a midnight massacre and destroyed

the foes. In a fit of frenzy, he killed even five children to

display his revenge against those who, he believed were

responsible for killing his father. He had learnt how to use a

missile that could reduce the world to rubble and had obtained a

jewel which could guard him against weapons, diseases and hunger.

(Only one other warrior could equal him, as he too possessed a

similar arrow). His intention was to please his friend who was in

throes of death, having been assaulted in the Kurukshetra war.

``Evil flourished on retaliation'' and this wicked man was

Ashwathama, son of the mighty teacher in archery. The Pandavas

and Draupadi who were grieved at this gruesome crime of

Ashwathama decided to wipe him out but Krishna who was aware of

the latter's capacity, urged Arjuna just to neutralise the effect

of the deadly missile used by the former. It was then that

Ashwathama took a blade of grass, uttered certain incantations

and sent it across his foes, saying: ``May the world be Pandava-

less''. Later, it entered the womb of the wife of Abhimanyu and

killed the growing child. At one stage, Ashwathama had the

audacity to suggest that the divine discus held by the Lord be

exchanged for his own `Astra'.

 

For once, Krishna became furious and called Ashwathama as the

most contemptible of all creatures born. ``I will give life to

the child'' and the Lord (in human form) cursed him that he would

have to wander in this world all alone, for a very long time,

without a single companion and without a loving word from anyone.

This child (that would survive) would rule the world as the

descendant of the Pandavas. (He was later known as Parikshit). In

his lecture, Sri. K.P. Arivanandam said Ashwathama represented

evil that submerged righteousness, even though he was the only

son of a scholar and was aware of the rules of just warfare, he

relentlessly repeated his unpardonable deeds, unimaginable in the

history of mankind. Here is an example of a person who butchered

even children little realising that the code of ethics should not

be violated and that God will not tolerate deliberate flouting of

the moral law even after being warned about the results.

 

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