Article sent from The Hindu

[Guest guest]

=============================================================

This article has been sent to you by Ram Chandran ( rchandran )

=============================================================

Source: thThe Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/06/29/stories/2002062900270800.htm)

 

Miscellaneous

-

Religion

 

 

Dharma protects one who follows it

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

JUNE 29

 

.. According to the scriptures which have given the guidelines for leading a

righteous life, Dharma which is the basis for all virtues, protects a person who

abides by it prescriptions. The Bhagavata Purana discusses the ramifications of

decline in Dharma at the outset. As soon as Lord Krishna departed from the world

Kali Yuga commenced and the signs of this age became visible to those who were

discerning. The Pandavas ascended to heaven unable to bear the grief of

separation from Lord Krishna after installing Pareekshit on the throne of

Hastinapur.

 

Pareekshit was a blessed man for he was saved by the grace of Lord Krishna even

before his birth and he cherished Dharma as much as the Pandavas did. He

happened to hear that Kali had entered the territory under his protection posing

a threat to Dharma and immediately took up arms to subdue it. When he reached

the bank of the River Saraswati he witnessed the strange sight of a cow and bull

in distress being harassed as though they had none to protect them. Moved by

pity the king immediately went to their rescue seeing the bull hopping about on

one foot and the cow shedding tears, and questioned them as to who was

responsible for their plight, said Sri Ravi Sharma in his discourse.

 

The bull which was Dharma in disguise replied, "Bewildered as we are by

conflicting statements of various thinkers, we know not the person responsible

for the causes of suffering. You have to investigate by your own judgment."

Pareekshit deduced rightly that the bull was Dharma, the god of virtue, and

replied, "You refuse to tell me the name of your persecutor because you know

that the lot which falls on a wrong-doer is also shared by the denouncer. In the

Krta Yuga you had four feet in the form of austerity, purity, compassion and

truthfulness. Three of them have since been destroyed by pride, attachment and

hauteur. Now you have only one foot left in the form of truthfulness on which

you are somehow supporting yourself. Kali however seeks to rob you of the same,

strengthened by falsehood." Pareekshit subdued Kali who had come in the guise of

the man troubling the animals to relieve their suffering and as he submitted to

him the king allowed him to stay on only in abodes wh!

ere the vices of falsehood, intoxication, passion, slaughter and animosity are

rampant during this age.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright: 1995 - 2002 The Hindu

 

Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly

prohibited without the consent of The Hindu