AVOID ARROGANCE AND PRIDE

One of the weaknesses and defects in human beings is arrogance or pride! Along with the six inward inveterate enemies namely Kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, and matsarya, this is responsible for the downfall of many a man! Many incidents in our puranas bear testimony to this fact. Mahabharatha speaks of the great king Nahusha who was about to be crowned as Indra in Heaven or Swargaloka by virtue of having performed one hundred ‘Aswamedha yagas’  He was being carried in a palanquin by a group of great sages. In his anxiety to reach the place quickly and in arrogance of his status, he prodded one of the sages by his foot saying the words  ‘Sarpa, sarpa. ’ Angered at this inappropriate act of the king,  the sage cursed him to become a ‘sarpa’ or Snake. Poor Nahusha had to lose the enviable post as Indra in heaven and suffer  for this arrogant act of his!
     “ Powercorrupts,absolute power corrupts absolutely.”How true and practical this statement is! It is in human nature to be puffed up with pride at some achievement or other! Man thinks too much about himself! He does not understand that there may be people better than himself in every sphere of activity. It is very rarely we come across people who in spite of their achievements and greatness remain humble. Shallowness is always boisterous! Depth is always silent. We do not find the beating of waves in the middle of the sea! Sri Sankara in his famous “Bhaja Govindam” warns humanity about the danger of arrogance.” Ma kuru dhana  jana  yauvana garvam harathi nimeshath  kalah sarvam” Arrogance or pride of clan, caste, community, power, ,wealth or devotion is sure to undo even the greatest person on earth!
        It is interesting to narrate a situation where Arjuna, the Pandava warrior felt very proud of his love and devotion to Lord Krishna! Arjuna and Krishna are considered more than relatives and friends. They are reputed as Nara and Narayana! Lord Krishna who sensed the arrogance of Arjuna  wanted to prick the bubble of his pride. On their walk Arjuna saw a strange and pious Brahmin eating dry grass. He looked holy and nonviolent to all creatures including grass. But he had a sword by his side. Arjuna wondered why the Brahmin had a sword with him. The Lord directed him to the Brahmin. Questioned by Arjuna, the strange Brahmin said the sword he had  is to punish four people if he were to find them! Surprised and shocked at this unexpected answer, Arjuna asked who those four people were. “ The first is the wretch Narada”, said the brahmin! Narada has been singing songs and praying and keeping the Lord awake day and night. Narada’s disturbance is unbearable and punishable! The second person he wanted to punish was Draupadi, wife of Pandavas! She had the imprudence and audacity to call the Lord  when  he was about to dine! He had to run to save the Pandavas from the anger of the irritable sage Durvasa! The lord had to eat the impure remnants of her own food! Arjuna was stunned!
        The third, the Brahmin said, was the lad  Prahlada who forced the Lord to be in the boiling cauldron of oil and allowed Him to be trampled under the feet of elephants and  break through  an adamantine pillar! Arjuna was petrified to hear these answers. Inquisitively Arjuna asked who the Fourth person was. Pat came the reply. “ The wretch, Arjuna,” said the brahmin. “He made my Lord take the mean office of a charioteer of his car in the great war of Kurukshetra! All these persons had tortured my Lord too much and hence I want to punish them with this sword “ said the Brahmin. Krishna was enjoying the conversation between Arjuna and the Brahmin. Arjuna was amazed at the depth of devotion of the poor Brahmin and the love for his Lord! His pride vanished from that moment  and he no longer felt that he was the best devotee of the Lord!