Sacred Concord

Mbh 5.12.4

Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

“‘Vrihaspati said, “My resolution is this, I shall not abandon one that hath sought my protection. O thou of unblamable life, I shall not abandon thee, virtuous as thou art and of a truthful disposition! I do not desire to do an improper act, specially as I am a Brahmana knowing what righteousness is, having a regard for truth, and aware also of the precepts of virtue. I shall never do it. Go your ways, ye best of gods. Hear what hath formerly been sung by Brahma with regard to the matter at hand. He that delivereth up to a foe of a person terrified and asking for protection obtaineth no protection when he himself is in need of it. His seed doth not grow at seed-time and rain doth not come to him in the season of rains. He that delivereth up to a foe a person terrified and asking for protection never succeedeth in anything that he undertaketh; senseless as he is, he droppeth paralysed from heaven; the gods refuse offerings made by him. His progeny die an untimely death and his forefathers always quarrel (among themselves). The gods with Indra and their head dart the thunderbolt at him. Know it to be so, I shall not deliver up this Sachi here, the queen of Indra, famous in the world as his favourite consort. O ye best of gods, what may be for both her good and mine I ask you to do. Sachi I shall never deliver up!”’
Mbh 5.12.4 · Mahabharata · UDYOGA PARVA

Themes in this passage

ProtectionDharmaDeathFearLiberationTruthDesireThe Divine

Protection in other traditions

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

That is the safe refuge, that is the best refuge; having gone to that refuge, a man is delivered from all pain.
Dhp 14.192 · Dhammapada · The Buddha (The Awakened)
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
Psalms 121:7 · Bible · Psalms
Say: Lo! none can protect me from Allah, nor can I find any refuge beside Him
Quran 72:22 · Quran · The Jinn
Now shield with shield, with helmet helmet closed, To armour armour, lance to lance opposed, Host against host with shadowy squadrons drew, The sounding darts in iron tempests flew, Victors and vanquish’d join’d promiscuous cries, And shrilling shouts and dying groans arise; With streaming blood the slippery fields are dyed, And slaughter’d heroes swell the dreadful tide.
Iliad 4.38 · Iliad · 4

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