Am I right?

I took a little break from crowding myself with knowledge, I stopped seeking anymore answers from books. I stopped sharing stories to observe how much of all that I learnt influenced me. One place where I observed this a lot is my own constant pondering on what is right and wrong? Do I decide from  my past patterns or do I render what is required for the situation. What is the position that I take for various events that happen around me? In essence what is my Dharma? Sometimes the world surprises u by giving u answers from places u least expect it. What one considers as spiritual group does the most hypocritical act while a common college going kid could lead a profound life and give u life lessons by example, People who talk endlessly about karma act as if they have no idea about it. Making you question what is right who is really right? The one who follows rules of modern living? Or one who simply does what the situation demands not worrying about rules. Today I am going to share one such view point from Mahabharata which answers and distinguishes the various ambiguities about Dharma in a simple way. However  my experience of this knowledge comes from my life and yes what I read drives what I do in my life.

Once Vidura asked Krishna what was Bheeshma’s mistake, what is Dronacharya’s mistake why is everyone who just stood by their promises punished? Why should Yudishtira, Bhishma, Drona Karna and almost everyone who kept silent during Draupadi’s Cheera Haranam be punished by time when all they did was being bound by the rules of their promises and diktats of rules of righteous living? Krishna’s answer astounded Vidura. Krishna said the one who promises and who is holding the other accountable for that promise should remember only one thing that

promise, penance, rules and rituals they are all merely branches of Dharma the root of Dharma is compassion.

They all held on to the branches and destroyed the root. Dharma Paripalana (adherence to dharma) is nurturing the root of Dharma which is compassion. Instead we often find that people supporting their own under the pretext that it is their duty. The unslayable Bheeshma’s death was caused by the simple fact that he held on to the duty of obeying to his step mother while ignoring the happiness of a simple princess. Dharma is very impartial it extends beyond family, beyond blood, beyond promises made and promises demanded. It rests in making the innocent smile, it exists to protect and comfort the innocent. Mahabharata teaches us that no promise is worth keeping if it is going to make the innocent whimper. Everything can be compromised to protect the victim. The rules, the promises rituals or even one’s own family. That is the biggest take away from Mahabharata. Karma ensues everyone who does not follow dharma. and Dharma cannot be followed if there is no compassion. If all of us can ask ourselves what drives my compassion and if compassion drives my act. Then there will really be a happy healthy and stress free violence free society. No Amount of prayer,service and no amount of knowledge can elevate a person if he has no compassion.