Pranaam yatri,
Coming back to where we paused last time.
The Plaavam was overflowing.
As per Shankar’s advice, Padmini requested the river to grant her a way if her husband is a Brahmachari.
The river gave her way, and she could feed her brother-in-law, the sanyaasi.
While coming back, she was stuck again.
Her husband had only told her how to get through once.
She could try it again. But what if it didn’t work?
The rain was intensifying, and she had to reach home before dark.
She went back to the sanyaasi for help.
“Prabhu, I have no way of going back home. The river has flooded. How may I go back? Please help me.”
“Don’t worry. You will reach home safe, and on time.
Once you get to the river, announce to the Plaavam, ‘If my sanyaasi brother-in-law is upvaasi, I request you to calm down.’ And it will.”
Padmini was confused. She’d just given him food. He had accepted and devoured it.
How could he be a upvaasi?
But remembering Shankar’s words and the journey to this side, she folded her hands and accepted what the ascetic said.
Once at the bank, she prayed to the Plaavam ‘If my sanyaasi brother-in-law is a upvaasi, I request you to part and give me a safe passage home.’
Miraculously, the river parted, and Padmini walked across the riverbed to her home.
We often find ourselves in Padmini’s shoes.
We wonder how ‘obvious’ things turn out to be different from what they appear.
How can someone who weds be a brahmachari?
How can the one who eats be a upvaasi?
And that leaves us confused, surprised and even angry.
But what we see is not necessarily what is.
Shankar may appear to touch Padmini, but lust never touched him.
Hence he was a true brahmachari.
The sanyaasi may consume food, but never allowed gluttony to consume him.
Hence he was a true upvaasi.
So the next time you see or hear of
A mother hitting her child
A soldier killing a terrorist
A manager scolding her subordinate
Don’t assume that they are violent, inhuman or unkind.
It could be part of their duty (kartavya)
Their inner world is hidden from us, so let’s give them the benefit of the doubt.
So let’s judge them on their intent.
And judge ourselves on our actions.
