Subhashithaani-Quotable quotes

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23. paropadheSe paandithyam sarveshaam sukaram nrNaam

 

Dharme svayam anushTaanam kasyachith

sumahaathmanaH

 

It is easy skill for all to advise others but only some great person follows the dharma himself.

 

Any one can advise others and we find that all people are normally well versed in doing that. But to set an example to others by his own

virtuous behaviour is possible only for great souls who are rare. Sri Rama was an example of the latter. He not only advised dharma to everyone but also followed it himself to set an example to humanity.

 

We often find people denouncing others for their faults but when it is pointed out that they themselves are not free from them they start justifying their behviour.

 

Once Arjuna was going along with Krishna and they came across a brahmin who was about to fall into the fire because he lost his son. Arjuna stopped him by saying that he was being foolish because death is inevitable and could not be stopped. Krishna laughed. When Arjuna asked him the reason he said that it will be known later. During the war when Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna, was killed by the kouravas cunningly, Arjuna was about to jump into the fire himself forgetting his advice to the Brahmin. This exactly is the behaviour of all in advising others.

 

There is an amusing but thought provoking appendix to the above story. When Arjuna cried over the death of Abhimanyu Krishna cried louder. Arjuna was surprised and asked him the reason and Krishna said that he was crying because he taught the Gita to Arjuna , of all people!