Sacred Concord

Mbh 3.197.2a

Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

“And one among them said, ‘Of the one who is to go with thee, who will go and who will fall down?’ And Narada answered, saying, ‘Sivi will go, but I will fall down.’ ‘For what reason?’ asked the enquirer. And Narada said, ‘I am not the equal of Sivi. For one day a Brahmana came unto Sivi and addressing him, said, ‘O Sivi, I came to thee for food.’ And Sivi replied unto him, saying. ‘What shall I do? Let me have thy orders.’ And the Brahmana answered, ‘This thy son known by the name of Vrihadgarbha should be killed. And, O king, cook him for my food.’ And hearing this, I waited to see what would follow. And Sivi then killed his son and cooking him duly and placing that food in a vessel and taking it upon his head, he went out in search of the Brahmana and while Sivi was thus seeking, for the Brahmana, some one told him, The Brahmana thou seekest, having entered thy city, is setting fire to thy abode and he is also setting fire, in wrath, to thy treasury, thy arsenal, the apartments of the females and thy stables for horses and elephants.’ And Sivi heard all this, without change of colour, and entering his city spoke unto the Brahmana, ‘O holy one, the food has been cooked.’ And the Brahmana hearing this spoke not a word and from surprise he stood with downcast looks. And Sivi with a view to gratifying the Brahmana said, ‘O holy one, eat thou this.’ And the Brahmana looking at Sivi for a moment said, ‘Eat it thyself.’ And thereupon Sivi said, ‘Let it be so.’ And Sivi cheerfully taking the vessel from his head desired to eat it and thereupon the Brahmana caught hold of Sivi’s hand and addressing him said, ‘Thou hast conquered wrath. There is nothing that thou canst not give unto the Brahmanas.’
Mbh 3.197.2a · Mahabharata · VANA PARVA

Themes in this passage

AngerChildrenCharityLeadership

Anger in other traditions

The same theme, as Christianity, Hellenism and Islam address it.

Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
Psalms 69:24 · Bible · Psalms
Neptune with wrath rejects the rash design: “What rage, what madness, furious queen! is thine? I war not with the highest. All above Submit and tremble at the hand of Jove.”
Iliad 8.19 · Iliad · 8
Noemon then went back to his father’s house, but Antinous and Eurymachus were very angry. They told the others to leave off playing, and to come and sit down along with themselves. When they came, Antinous son of Eupeithes spoke in anger. His heart was black with rage, and his eyes flashed fire as he said:
Odyssey 4.58 · Odyssey · 4
(Saying): Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you, and transgress not in respect thereof lest My wrath come upon you: and he on whom My wrath cometh, he is lost indeed.
Quran 20:81 · Quran

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