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

 

No human being is infallible

 

CHENNAI, SEPT. 18. No human being can claim to be infallible. At

some stage in his life, even a person, who had been strictly and

zealously following the code of ethics, could dare say that he

had never violated moral law. Everyone should have committed a

mistake, unknowingly or unintentionally or deliberately. The

Mahabharatam cites one such instance where a warrior, known for

his intelligence and valour, had sought a step, considered

heinous, to kill a powerful opponent. But scriptures have also

said that at times such defaults could be atoned through a

special procedure.

 

In the Kurukshetra war, the mighty hero, Arjuna, and his retinue

were able to win over the grandsire, Bhishma, only by special

efforts, contrary to norms. For this grave sin, there was only

one punishment - to be sent to hell. But the only act of

atonement to escape this punishment was that Arjuna should be

defeated by his son. This was made possible when Arjuna was

leading the horse set free during his brother's Aswameda Yaga.

When he reached the Pandyan kingdom at Manalur, its young ruler

killed him. Later, it was inferred that the young king was

Arjuna's son (through one of his wives). He did not join the

Kurukshetra war as he was adopted by his grandfather who declined

to send him. (This place later has come to be known as Madurai).

Arjuna was however revived by one of his wives using a gem

(called Sanjeevanam) placing it on his chest.

 

Another strange incident in the epic mentions how on His way back

home, Lord Krishna met a sage, who totally oblivious to the war

that had taken place and subsequent developments, asked Him about

the welfare of the two groups. Krishna explained to him about

various events, how Duryodhana and others were completely

destroyed and how Yudhishtira was now ruling the country. To a

request from the sage, the Lord granted him a boon that he could

obtain water at any time he wanted to quench his thirst. On one

occasion, when he was thirsty, he used the boon but contrary to

his expectation, a man from a lower caste came and offered him

water kept in a leather pouch. Annoyed, the sage was angry with

Krishna who appeared before him and expressed His regret that

while He had actually sent him elixir through the chief of the

celestials, the latter did not serve it to him. At the Lord's

behest, the sage was told that he would get water at any time

directly from the clouds. Even now, if there is a downpour in

desert area, people describe the rain is from ``Utanga clouds''

named after the sage, said Sri. K. P. Arivanandam in a lecture.

 

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