Acting in haste versus vacillation

Acting in haste versus vacillation
8 Oct, 2007, 0110 hrs IST, TNN

A king of ancient India had hung from the ceiling of his palace (as was also the practice in many houses on those days), various manuscripts with selections of pithy quotes of great writers. One night, as the king entered his queen’s chamber, he found her on the cot, embracing a young man. Enraged, the king pulled out his sword, which, as it rose up to the ceiling happened to first hit one of the manuscripts, hanging on the ceiling.

Angry at the distraction, at the same time curious as to the matter written on that particular manuscript, which had thus fallen down, the king restrained himself to read the contents therein. The leaf bore these lines from the ancient Sanskrit work, Kiratarjuniya of poet Bharavi, which, when translated ran thus, “One should not do anything in haste because confused and impulsive behaviour could be most dangerous. Prosperity naturally attends on the virtuous and those who do things after due consideration.”

The king calmed down and demanded an explanation from the queen. Pointing to the youth at her bedside, she replied, “Don’t you recognise him? He is our dear son, who, while yet a boy, had after a tiff with you, run away. He has now returned!”

This was a case, where, thanks to a chance intervention, a major tragedy didn’t come to pass. In most cases, however, problems and often misfortunes follow impetuous actions, as also ill considered and stinging words. Valluvar in his Tamil work, Kural observes that even the wound caused by burns would heal but not the scars inflicted by a harsh tongue.

Though desisting from hasty actions would be ideal, at least expressing sincerely one’s regret or asking for forgiveness could be done as damage control exercises, instead of choosing to stand on prestige. Fortunate indeed is one, possessed of that healthy ego, which often is nourished by a willingness to admit one’s mistakes and shed vain pride!