In the Mahabharata, Duryodhana and Dussashana were very powerful and wealthy
rulers. Yet they were lacking in good qualities. Their greed was responsible
for their ruin and that of their entire clan. So wicked qualities not only ruin
a person but also bring bad name to his kith and kin. We can derive happiness
only when we share with others whatever we have. Vedas also proclaim this, "Na
Karmana Na Prajaya Dhanena Tyagenaikena Amrutatva Maanushuhu." Authority and
position cannot confer happiness upon man.*
Only sacrifice confers happiness. Today we don't find even an iota of sacrifice
in man. What is the reason? He has become a miser within. The absence of the
feeling of sacrifice is due to miserliness. Krishna pleaded with Kauravas to
spare at least five villages to Pandavas. When he had this vast country of
Bharat, could not Duryodhana have spared five villages? He
even refused to give space enough to place a needlepoint. How greedy he was!
Actually speaking, the kingdom belonged to Panduraja. Dhritarashtra considered
the kingdom as his property, though it did not belong to him, and he refused to
give Pandavas their share in the kingdom. His greed was responsible for the war
of Mahabharata.*
- From Bhagawan's 2000 Dasara Discourses.
OUR LIFE IS HIS MESSAGE
Sai Ram
