Miscellaneous - Religion   

Under the sway of evil

CHENNAI: Misfortunes and misery are as much part of life as happiness and joy and it is believed that each one is subject to these changes according to one’s Karma. The need to remain committed to righteous living at all times, good and bad, is reinforced in the scriptures, the Puranas and the Itihasas, wherein one finds an inspiring record of social, cultural, moral and spiritual values.

Evil, deceit, anger, jealousy and other negative emotions manifest in individuals and prompt them to tread the path of Adharma. The Mahabharata reflects the eternal conflict between Dharma and Adharma, and of the challenges that a person committed to Dharma faces, pointed out Srimati Prema Pandurang in a lecture. That is why the Lord incarnates time and again whenever evil predominates and the good has to be protected.

The extent of suffering that easily accrues when one succumbs to the human weakness of gambling is well illustrated in the lives of Yudhishtira and Nala. Yudhishtira stood by Dharma at all times, yet he had an inherent weakness for the game of dice and this became the cause of his being cheated out of his kingdom by the wily Sakuni and Duryodhana. When the Pandava brothers were dejected at their deplorable plight in the forest, Sage Vrihadaswa narrated the history of a prince more miserable than Yudhishtira — the celebrated Nala, renowned for his knowledge, virtue and wealth, who was won over by deceitful means by his wicked brother Pushkara in a similar fashion. Nala won the hand of Damayanti, whose grace, beauty and good qualities were well known, at the Swayamvara, where, under the pretext of wishing to seek Damayanti, the celestials, Indra, Varuna, Yama and Agni, wanted to test Nala’s sincerity of purpose and then bless him also.

But Kali was jealous of Nala’s good fortune and planned to wreck his life by leading him away from the path of Dharma. He enticed Nala to engage in gambling after a patient wait of 12 years, and managed to inflict untold suffering on the royal couple. Finally, Nala overcame the influence of Kali by being steadfast in virtue. He regained his kingdom and was reunited with his wife and children.

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