The story of the Man, the Master of His Destiny
After the great
MahaaBhaarata war, the king Yudhishtirainstead of being happy felt a great deal
of remorse. He was unhappy that he had been
the cause of so many death in the battlefield.
Bheeshma then narrated to him, the story of Gauthami.
There was once
a pious old lady named Gauthami. One day
her beloved son died on account of being bitten by a snake. An angry fowler bound the serpent with a rope
and brought it before Gauthami. The
fowler wanted to kill the snake immediately but wanted Gauthami’s consent to do
so. Gauthami argued that her son’s death
was predestined. There was no good to be
achieved by killing and torturing the serpent, for it would not bring back her
son’s life. The fowler retorted that
only by taking the serpent’s life would Gauthami’s grief be assuaged. Also much merit would be acquired by killing
of one’s enemies.
When the
serpent heard Gauthami and fowler arguing heatedly with each other, he
intervened saying in a human voice, “Oh! Foolish Arjunaka! This is not my
fault. I have no will of my own. Death sent me on this mission. I am neither the cause nor the effect. So do not kill me.” But the foolish fowler paid no heed to his
words.
Therupon
Mrithyu or Death came on the scene. He
told the serpent that he had been guided by Kala. He added that there was no blame attached to
him since neither he nor the serpent was to be blamed. But still the fowler would not agree. He said that both Mrithyu and the serpent
were to be blamed for the boy’s death.
While this
argument was going on, Kala arrived there.
He declared. “Oh! Arjunaka! Neither
Mrithyu nor the serpent, nor I am guilty of the death of this child. It is his karma which is responsible
for his early demise. All of us are
bound by karma. Just as men make
different objects with lumps of clay, so our lives are fashioned by karma. Mankind is related closely to karma, just
as light and shadow are related. So none
is responsible for this child’s death.
He had died as a result of his karma.” When Gauthami heard this,
she was satisfied and requested the fowler Arjunaka to set the serpent
free. Kala, Mrithyu, the serpent and
fowler returned to their respective places.
Bheeshma
concluded, “There is no need for you to feel grief for all those who died in
the battlefield. Men attain to Heaven or
Hell as a result of their own karma. This
(war) is not the result of your action or Dhuryodhana’s. These kings have perished as a result of their
karma.” Having heard all these,
Yudhishtira’s mind regained peace. 467
(This story is taken from the Mahaa Bharatam - Anusaasanika Parva- I Chapter)
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