Give up for the greater good

• Author: Krishna Sakha, Mudarangadi
• Translator: Lakshmi

tyajēt kulārthē puruṣaṁ grāmasyārthē kulaṁ tyajēt |
grāmaṁ janapadasyārthē ātmārthē pr̥thivīṁ tyajēt ||
— ( mahābhārata – viduranīti )

“One person for the sake of a clan, one clan for the sake of a village, one village for the sake of a nation, and ultimately all worldly pleasures for the sake of the upliftment of the soul, should be given up”

If one person is likely to tarnish the dignity of a clan, such a person must be expelled from the clan. If one clan can possibly do injustice to an entire village, then such a clan must be banished. If the growth of one village is endangering an entire nation, then such a village must be obliterated. Otherwise, like a cancer that spreads and destroys the entire body, it can destroy the entire nation.
The one thing that is certain after death is rebirth, again and again until salvation. Just like a ladder is used to climb up to a loft, one should be aware that this mortal world must be used as a means to climb up to the ultimate release which is moksha or salvation. If there is an honest and intrinsic desire to reach this goal, then a person must learn to abstain from the worldly desires even if they are within his reach. Only then will he be able to peacefully give up these fascinations when the journey of life on this world reaches its end, just like easily giving up a ladder upon reaching the loft.

In this way, Vidura forewarns Dhritarashtra

“Hey Dhritarashtra, for the welfare of the nation, banish your one most maleficent son, handover the responsibility of the kingdom to the righteous people and take the path which leads to betterment.”

In this way Lord Vedavyasa cautions us that instead of going behind mere attractions of life even after reaching a ripe age, we should prepare ourselves to renounce them and eventually the world too.

Lakshmi