When good men suffer and bad ones prosper

[Guest guest]

I am often asked as an astrologer how it is that sometimes we see good men

suffer while evil ones prosper (usually the person is lamenting that they

are the good one who is suffering). For example here in Bangalore many nice

devotees are suffering while it seems like MPD and the Rtviks are doing well

(for now). The following answer by Lomasa Rsi to Maharaja Yudhistira is

quite appropriate:

 

 

 

 

Mahabharata Vana parva chapter 94

 

"Yudhishthira said, 'O best of celestial Rishis, I do not think that I am

without merits. Yet am I afflicted with so much sorrow that there never

was a king like me. I think, however, that my enemies are destitute of

good qualities and even destitute of morality. Yet why, O Lomasa, do they

prosper in this world?"

 

"Lomasa said, 'Grieve not ever, O king, O son of Pritha, that sinful men

should often prosper in consequence of the sins they commit. A man may be

seen to prosper by his sins, obtain good therefrom and vanquish his foes.

Destruction, however, overtakes him to the roots. O king, I have seen

many Daityas and Danavas prosper by sin but I have also seen destruction

overtake them. O exalted one, I have seen all this in the righteous age

of yore. The gods practised virtue, while the Asuras abandoned it. The

gods visited the tirthas, while the Asuras did not visit them. And at

first the sinful Asuras were possessed with pride. And pride begat vanity

and vanity begat wrath. And from wrath arose every kind of evil

propensities, and from these latter sprang shamelessness. And in

consequence of shamelessness, good behaviour disappeared from among them.

And because they had become shameless and destitute of virtuous

propensities and good conduct and virtuous vows, forgiveness and

prosperity and morality forsook them in no time. And prosperity then, O

king, sought the gods, while adversity sought the Asuras. And when the

Daityas and the Danavas, deprived of sense by pride, were possessed by

adversity. Kali also sought to possess them. And, O son of Kunti,

overwhelmed with pride, and destitute of rites and sacrifices, and devoid

of reason and feeling, and their hearts full of vanity, destruction

overtook them soon. And covered with infamy, the Daityas were soon

exterminated.