The snare of deceit must break down
one day or the other, there after when it is exposed, the deceitful person
has to undergo a very miserable plight. Therefore, we should always follow
the superb virtue of uprightness or honesty (Uttama Arjava)
beneficial to self and others as well.
Deceit (Maya) wrong belief (Mithya)
and ambition of reward for a good deed (Nidan) are the three thorns
(shaliya). If any of these thorns persists in somebody's mind, the
person cannot lead a happy life. Likewise, when the thorn of deceit enters
a man's heart, it goes on pricking him. A deceitful person is always
worried and remains suspicious, lest his deceit should be exposed. It is a
well-known saying: 'A guilty conscious is always suspicious'.
One day a king began to ease
himself sitting under a jack fruit tree. Ripe jackfruits had dropped ala
around the tree. On seeing the jack fruits the king's mouth watered.
Finding it a secluded place, he picked up a jackfruit and put it into his
mouth. But soon fear overpowered his mind with the doubt lest some one
should have seen him. After easing himself, the king came back to his
palace. That day, while dancing in the royal court, the court dancer began
to sing, " I shall disclose today's secret, O King". As soon as the king
heard this, filled with his own mental doubt, he began to think, "Probably
she has seen me eating the jack fruit." Doubting lest she should disclose
the secret in the presence of all counselors and citizens, he took off his
necklace and offered it to the court dancer. When the royal dancer sang
the same song the next day as well, the king took off his earrings and
presented them to her. The court dancer mistook the king's bounty. She
began to sing the same song in the royal court and got one or the other
present from the king daily. When the king was fed up with presenting her
ornaments, one day in great rage he asked, "Why do you daily repeat the
same song? Disclose everything if you want to do so. I have not done any
improper act by eating a jack fruit while easing myself." Hearing this the
court dancer was dumbfounded. From the above example it becomes amply
clear that so long as the thorn of deceit exists in the heart of a person,
he remains perturbed and loses the peace of mind.
If fire is kept wrapped in a piece
of cloth, after having burnt the cloth it comes out taking a more fierce
shape than before. Likewise, a deceitful deed cannot be concealed by any
effort. Therefore, how does a deceitful deed benefit anybody? Not at all,
if good fortune does not smile upon us, our faults are faults are but
exposed despite our utmost effort to conceal them. But true it is that
people do not regard a deceitful person guilty, even when his fault is
exposed. It shows that there is no need for a virtuous person to be
deceitful. Even wealth is obtained only by good luck and diligence. Thus,
deceit gives rise to many evils in this world and spoils the charm of the
other world, too.
Not only mean persons, but
sometimes- even persons of high status also indulge in deceitful deeds,
which result in infinite bondage and ultimately lead to the worldly cycle
of births and deaths. Nobody trusts a deceitful person. Highly virtuous
people, who cross the river of deceit with the boat of honesty or
straight-forwardness (Arjava Dharma) become victorious in life. On
cheating his teacher Dronacharya by uttering the deceitful words 'kunjro
na nara': Yudhister was filled with so great remorse that he
concealed himself from the saintly persons. Thus, even great persons have
suffered due to deceit. Knowing this fact deceit should be given up.
When Narayan Shri Krishna
and Arjun stood face to face in the battlefield, seeing his kith and kin
Arjun spoke, "They are my brethren. I shall not shoot arrows at them."
Saying so he dropped the bow and arrows on the ground. On hearing the
words of Arjun, Shri Krishna was perturbed and spoke, "O Arjun! No body
will admit that you are kind- hearted. All will say that Arjun is a
coward. So he fled away from the battle field out of fear." As soon as
Arjun heard these words, he picked up the bow and started fighting. A
fierce battle took place between the armies. When innumerous human beings
were being killed in the battle, Abhimanyu also met the same fate. Shri
Krishna was dumbfounded as to how he would console Kunti that they could
not safeguard Abhimanyu. Henceforth, the Pandu family would come to end.
In fact, it is very easy to give
rise to a war, but very difficult to bring it to a close. Likewise, it is
easy to give rise to disputes between two societies, two nations, two
religious groups, two communities, two politicians, and two brothers but
it is a hard nut to crack to put an end to their quarrels. Narayan Shri
Krishna was much worried, as a cease-fire could not be worked out between
the two war groups of Pandav and Kauravas without the use of
deceit. He said to Yudhister, "O Yudhister! If you say 'Ashwathama has
been killed', the Kauravas will believe your words and take for granted
the death Dronacharya's son Ashwthama and instantly the battle will come
to an end." To this Yudhister replied, "Even if I loose everything, I will
not tell a lie." An elephant named Ashwthama was killed just then. Then
Yudhister thought, "There is no harm, if I speak the truth now." No sooner
Yudhister utter the words 'Ashwathama hata' 'Ashwathama killed', and he
was going to add 'gaj' - elephant than Shri Krishna sounded the
conch shell. Those who were present in the battlefield could not
understand if it was an elephant or a man that was killed. And in no time
there was complete cease-fire. Thus, deceit was applied to put an end to
the battle of Mahabharat. Indeed, Shri Krishna in this case applied the
axiom, 'Everything is fair in Love and War'; which is irreligious.
Likewise, men in general believe
and act according to the saying, 'End justifies the means'. It is why
professionals and common men use deceit in their daily routine. Some
corrupt businessmen rob the consumers. Some treacherous lawyers exploit
their clients. Some inhumane doctors make operation table bargains with
the patients and some mean tutors mint money from their students by the
use of deceit and fraud. Taking and giving bribes is also nothing but
deceitful conduct and a punishable offense. Many times housewives also
extort money from their husbands by deceit, or applying trick. The modern
materialistic society may approve of such immoral conduct; but religion
always insists on 'fair work and no foul play' under all odds.
It has been nicely said about
hypocrisy: "The world is a place where humbug or hypocrisy cannot find
much scope for a long time. The real nature of every man comes out
prominent in due course."
The great poet Reidhu has described
supreme uprightness thus:
Dhamhu varam lakhanru aju thir
manru duriy vihandnru suhjanru
Tam ith ji kijeyi tampalijeyi
tamnri sunrijeyi khrey janru
Jarisu nrijay chiti chintijyi
tarisu anrhampunu bhasijyi
Kogyo punru tarisu suhsanchnru
tan ajyu gunrmunrhu achynru
Maya salu mnrhu nrisarhu ajyu
dhamu pavitru vyarhu
Chuuo tau mayaviyu nrirthu ajyu
siv pur panthhu sathau
Jath kudil parimanru chijyi thim
ajah dhamu ji sampajah
Dasanr nranr saruv akhandu param
atindrya sukh krandu
Apim apu bhavhu tardu airisu
chainr bhav pyandu
So punru ajyu dhamay namyi
ajvainr beyiriy manru khumyi
Ajyu parmapu gye sankapu chimatu
ji sasu abhu
Tam nriru jhayijyi sansu hijyi
pavijyi jihin achal pau
1. Uprightness (Arjava) is
the superb religious virtue. It makes the mind stable, annihilates evil,
gives birth to happiness and puts an end to sins. Hence, O holy souls!
Follow this virtue of righteousness, practice over it and give ear to it.
2. Whatever thoughts arise in your
mind, speak them out to others as such; and make efforts to make a similar
type of action with body i.e., be honest in mind, speech and action. This
is the eternal rule to usher in happiness.
3. This virtue of uprightness is
acquired by giving up deceitful ideas. It is a sign of infinite belief and
knowledge and is a storehouse of extreme non-sensual (celestial)
happiness.
4. By uprooting the thorn of deceit
from your inner self, meditate upon the holy virtue of uprightness;
because all the vows, self-restraint and observance of holy rules by a
deceitful person, are futile. Only the virtue of uprightness paves the
path of salvation.
5. The virtue of uprightness itself
takes the soul across the ocean of the universe; intense feelings of
advanced spiritual development are obtained through the virtue of
uprightness. Uprightness conquers the pride or vanity of the opponents.
6. The virtue of uprightness is the
symbol of the divine; it is free from any pledge (sankalp); it is a
living image of the lord; it is friendly to the soul; it is eternal and
sign of fearlessness. The person, who meditates upon this virtue of
uprightness, attains the imperishable state of salvation (Moksha).
Hence, O Mortal Man! Be upright, be
upright and be upright in all thy daily dealings; and shun all deceit and
fraud, for 'Honesty is the best policy'.
Many people think that honesty and
integrity cannot possibly be maintained in this mundane world; but they do
not know that without these, life is nothing but chaos.
In truth, honesty is a great asset
in life. Even if you become a beggar, it will be your glory to think that
you are an honest beggar. A clear conscience shines far more bright than a
heap of gold coins - fresh from the mint, and is far more valuable than a
whole mine of diamonds.
The great poet sings:
'How happy is he born or taught
That serveth not another's will
Whose armor is his honest thought?
And simple truth his utmost skill!’
- Sir Henry
Wotton
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