Page 2 - tapova prasad sept-2024

lake, the impact is felt by every particle of water to a lesser or greater
extent. If I realize only the impact where I have thrown the stone,
then I am thinking in a limited manner. For example, I lie to a person,
and he incurs a loss of `1,000 Thereafter, I regret the lie and feel
satisfied by paying for my wrong act by giving back the money.
I fail to recognize the pain of losing faith, the mental tension due
to it, the impact on his family, and so on. Why is it that we regret
a wrong act only on being caught? Why do we always feel that a
verbal show of regret is enough to eliminate the harm done? Why
do we feel we deserve less punishment than we get? This is
our immaturity.
Draupadi’s Evolution

When the five sons of Draupadi were killed by Ashwatthama,
she cried for his blood. But when he was brought before her, she
asked for him to be released. She knew the pain of the death of a
son and did not want his mother to go through the same. Also,
Ashwatthama was their Guru’s son and thus deserved to be
treated like the Guru. With these noble thoughts, she forgave him.
But this same Draupadi was unable to forgive Duryodhana
and Dushasana for insulting her and attempting to strip her in
the court, even though she was saved in time by Shri Krishna.
She declared that she would not tie her long tresses till she had
bathed them in their blood. For 13 long years, she carried the
thought of revenge in her heart and was appeased only by their
blood. Why this forgiveness for one and unforgiveness for another
from such a great devotee of God?
Time may have taught her to be more forgiving. After seeing the
tremendous loss of life and sorrow of the great war, she may have
had no wish to add any more pain, even to the enemy.
She forgave Ashwatthama after the death of Duryodhana and
Dushasana. She may have realized that taking revenge does not
really give any satisfaction.

Tapovan Prasad 46 September 2024