Sacred Concord

Mbh 12.82.2b

Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

This crow of mine, O king, has been slain for doing thy business. I cannot, however, blame thee for this. Thou art not loved by those (that have slain this bird). Ascertain who are thy friends and who thy foes. Do everything thyself without surrendering thy intelligence to others. They who are on thy establishment are all peculators. They do not desire the good of thy subjects. I have incurred their hostility. Conspiring with those servants that have constant access to thee they covet the kingdom after thee by compassing thy destruction. Their plans, however, do not succeed in consequence of unforeseen circumstances. Through fear of those men, O king, I shall leave this kingdom for some other asylum. I have no worldly desire, yet those persons of deceitful intentions have shot this shaft at my crow, and have, O lord, despatched the bird to Yama's abode. I have seen this, O king, with eyes whose vision has been improved by penances. With the assistance of this single crow I have crossed this kingdom of thine that is like a river abounding with alligators and sharks and crocodiles and whales. Indeed, with the assistance of that bird, I have passed through thy dominions like unto a Himalayan valley, impenetrable and inaccessible in consequence of trunks of (fallen) trees and scattered rocks and thorny shrubs and lions and tigers and other beasts of prey. The learned say that a region inaccessible in consequence of gloom can be passed through with the aid of a light, and a river that is unfordable can be crossed by means of a boat. No means, however, exist for penetrating or passing through the labyrinth of kingly affairs. Thy kingdom is like an inaccessible forest enveloped with gloom. Thou (that art the lord of it) canst not trust it. How then can I? Good and evil are regarded here in the same light. Residence here cannot, therefore, be safe. Here a person of righteous deeds meets with death, while one of unrighteous deeds incurs no danger.
Mbh 12.82.2b · Mahabharata · SANTI PARVA

Themes in this passage

KarmaLeadershipDesireThe DivineNatureDeathDharmaFear

Karma in other traditions

The same theme, as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Taoism address it.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Psalms 126:5 · Bible · Psalms
The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend.
Quran 41:34 · Quran
He whose evil deeds are covered by good deeds, brightens up this world, like the moon when freed from clouds.
Dhp 13.173 · Dhammapada · The World
The movement of the Tao By contraries proceeds; And weakness marks the course Of Tao's mighty deeds.
Tao Te Ching 40.1 · Tao Te Ching

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