Calm In The Gravest Situations

Once Guru Shukracharya sent Virochan, the son of Prahlad for hunting. Although Prahlad did not approve, Guru Shukracharya felt it was a part of the training for the crown prince. In the forest, Virochan was searching for a prey when a very strong storm came.

Sudhanva, son of Sage Angira was meditating under a tree which almost fell on him due to the winds. Virochan saved him at the right time. Both were hurt and together they sought shelter at the cottage of Sage Vatsa. Both Virochan and Sudhanva fell in love with the sage's daughter Deepavali.

Later, both Virochan and Sudhanva came and proposed to Deepavali. When she was

unable to choose, Virochan drew his sword on Sudhanva and abducted Deepavali, taking her to Shukracharya's ashram.

The Saptarishis informed Prahlad of his son's actions and Prahlad at once rescued Deepavali, standing up to Shukracharya. When neither Deepavali nor her father could decide between the two boys, her father asked Prahlad to decide.

Prahlad asked Sudhanva if he approved him to be the judge. Sudhanva accepted. Kayadhu and Prahlad's wife tried to convince Prahlad to decide in Virochan's favor. Prahlad however decided Virochan was wrong to have used force and that he decided Deepavali should marry Sudhanva. Virochan humbly admitted his mistake. Prahlad also announced that his son Virochan would get a death penalty for his mistake against the Brahmin.

But everyone including Sudhanva and Guru Shukracharya urged Prahlad to pardon Virochan as the severity of the mistake was not big and there was no violence in the incident. Prahlad agreed and changed his decision and pardoned his son.

Prahlad first ordered death penalty for Virochan and later pardoned him. In either case, he did not have any feeling. Such was the Vairag in Prahlad's heart.

Moral Of The Story

Something happens in the world and when we see or hear it, we feel good or bad. In

either case, we prove that our mind is still in the world. How much we feel depends on how much our mind is attached in the world.

But examples like Prahlad teach us that our inner strength - which is our relationship with God - helps us to treat both good and bad situations with the same calmness and tranquility.