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On the subject of what type of interaction should be there in the community please take an example- In India, Yudhister is famous as a religious person. Jains as well as non Jains, all recognize him as a great man and religious person. On the other hand Duryodhan was a sinner. He had consigned Bhim into the river, got the house of Pandavas burnt, yet Pandavas escaped due to their good fortune. Duryodhan defeated Yudhister in gambling and sent Pandavas to the forest. They were experiencing lot of suffering in the forest. Pandavas were powerful by themselves and they had associates such as Shree Krishna. If Pandavas so desired they would have defeated Duryodhan within no time. But Yudhister used to say "What has been said by mouth, must be complied with even at the cost of one's life." Dropadi used to ridicule in this respect and say " You are the one to put powerful brother like Bhim and Arjun in difficulty. You have made them so meek. I am depending on wild food, even thought I am the daughter and wife of royal families. You are the cause of this." It is natural for a man to lose temper on hearing such words of his wife. But Yudhister used to say in reply to Dropadi "Devi, why there should be so much of aggressiveness in you. To me my brothers look very handsome even during this hour of distress. And you also seem to be very beautiful. I am also looking so well that even Indra cannot stand in comparison. You say this is a bad time. But, I ask "Is this time bad or the time when your cloth was pulled to make you naked?" Dropadi replied " That time was very bad. This time, we are living carefree. But at that time even remaining alive had become difficult. The suffering at that time was most disastrous." Yudhister said " Who kept your shame intact at that time? When I think of that time I find this time is very agreeable. I do not find this time disagreeable because dharma is being observed at this time . You criticize this time often, but think a bit, that we are suffering at this for observing dhrama, without any fault of ours. What greater pleasure can there be? Despite the fact that Yudhister and his brothers were suffering in the forest, they eye sore for Duryodhan thought "Pandavas are helpless at the moment. If I take the army and destroy them, then the trouble would be over for ever. Having thought so, Duryodhan proceeded, with army on the pretext of visiting gokul. His desire was to destroy Pandavas. But he pretended to visit gokul. Former Kings used to maintain gokul and shrawaks also used to keep gokuls. The description of Anand Shrawak does not mention that he possessed elephants, horses or moters. On the contrary there is a mention of his possessing cows. Thus, people is olden days used to protect cows. But, today it appears that people consider cow herding as an inferior task. People complain of cow slaughter but deep thinking would reveal that the main reason for this is the fact that Hindus have stopped respecting cows. People do not mind spending on the petrol but are not prepared to spend on the grass for cows. Durydhan had the feeling at his heart to destroy Pandavas, but he proceeded with army for inspection of gurukul. On his way, Duryodhan stayed with his army in the garden of Gandharav and for this reason there was a battle between Gandharav and Duryodhan. Gandharav was powerful. He won and arrested Duryodhan alive. One of the agents of Duryodhan sent this message to Pandavas and Dropadi. On listening the news, Bhim, Arjun and Dropadi said "It is very good that Duryodhan has been arrested. That scoundrel is reaping the fruits of his misdeeds." Duryodhan had come with mal-intention and harassed Pandavas a lot. Even then, on hearing the news of the arrest of Duryodhan, Yudhister said to Bhim, Arjun, etc. "Brother, You are feeling happy at the arrest of Duryodhan and consider it very good, but this does not behave us. He said to Arjun, "If you have faith in me, then do what I say." Arjun said "I have full faith in you. Therefore, Your elders are acceptable to me . I will do whatever you say." Then, Yudhister said "When there is a fight with Kuravas, on the one side there are one hundred Kuravas and on the other side we, Pandavas are there. However bad Duryodhan may be, but after all he is our brother. How appropriate it is that despite our strength some body arrests our brother? Therefore, if you have strength, go and set free Duryodhan from the prison of Gandharav. Pious Yudhister has given such a well-thought gift to Indian posterity. But, today such proper thinking has been forgotten and circumstances are so difficult. The third forces is exerting pressure but Hindus and Muslims, Vaishnavs and Jains cannot live together in peace. Yudhister said "If our brother, who might have harmed us in numerous ways, is being oppressed by a third person, then it is our duty to have him released." Earlier Arjun had said "It was very good that Duryodhan has been arrested by Gandharav." But immediately after Yudhister's direction Arjun went to Gandharav and he said to him to free Duryodhan. On hearing this Gandharav said to Arjun "Friend, what are you doing. You are not considering that Duryodhan is the worst scoundrel and he was on his way to kill you. In such circumstances, I have caught and imprisoned him. What is wrong in that? Therefore, you go to your house and do not make any attempt to free him. Arjun said "However bad Duryodhan may be but he is our brother. Therefore, he has to be freed." Arjun said so for the protection of his brother, but don't you fight cases in courts against your brother. Perhaps, somebody may say "my brother is very bad." It can be said to him that howsoever bad he may be, pardon and patience were shown towards a brother as bad as Duryodhan, cannot you show similar pardon and patience towards your brother. But you do not have adequate sense of pardon and patience and therefore you file cases against your brother in the courts. Arjun, Bhim and Dropadi-all the three were very much against Duryodhan, but even then how much faith in the words of Bhagwan. Bhagawan says "The enemy who is cutting your head is also your friend. In reality nobody can cut anybody's head's head. But soul can cut its own head. Therefore, soul is the real enemy." Arjun said to Gandharav "May be you are telling things in our interest, but I cannot accept your suggestion as against what has been said by my brother. According to the orders of my eldest brother, Yudhister, I have to obtain the release of Duryodhan from you. Therefore, you release him. If you do not want to do so, then you have to fight me. In case you have held him for our welfare then I have to say that free him. I have not to look at his bad deeds, but I have to obey the orders of my brother. Therefore release him. Finally, Arjun got Duryodhan released. Yudhister was very pleased and said "you are my true brother." He said to Dropadi "see, how happy are we in this forest." In this manner, Yudhister observed religion even in the forest in the most difficult time. But you must think about this in relation to yourself. You come to Upasara for observing religion or for satisfying your ego. Immediately on entering the religious place without giving up anger, ego, etc.. one must say that you are far from being religious. Bhim said to Yudhister "We were happy to learn that Gandharav had arrested Duryodhan. If you were not there, we would have committed this sin." On hearing Bhim, Yudhister replied "This is all right but if I did not have a brother like Arjun, who would have obeyed my order." You are human beings. It is probable that in your heart as well such sinful thoughts would arise. Even then you must remember to obey the orders. It is the directive of Bhagwan that consider everybody as your friend. Seek parson for your faults and pardon other' faults. In complying with this directive, one should not follow the policy in term of which you do not seek pardon of these with whom you have disputes and quarrels and seek pardon of other merely as a ritual. This is not the correct way to seek pardon and to give pardon. The path shown by Bhagwan Mahaveer bestows the feelings of pardon for enemies as well as friends. If you adopt this supreme path of Bhagwan, You shall attain welfare. Today, Yudhister is no more, but there is what he said. Keep this in mind and adopt it in your life. ------------------------------------------------
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