The three rules come from the Mahabharata, an epic Indian story of war and strife. It also contains the well known Bhagavad Gita. But that's not the centre of this particular blog entry. It is a story which Prem Rawat uses frequently to remind us that we need to be conscious at all times, so that we don't fall into the same trap.
So the gist of the story is as follows:
There was a beautiful princess and she was coming up to marriageable age. She heard that a well-known sage had come to town, and she was advised to check him out and ask him to foretell her future. She decided to do that and went to visit. The sage told her that she would be the cause of a war in which millions would die! Naturally, she was horrified and asked if there was anything she could do to prevent that. The sage told her there was. All she would have to do was follow these three rules:
"First, Don't offend anyone; secondly, don't get offended; and thirdly, if you do get offended, don't seek revenge".
What happened? There was a big party where potential suitors were invited. She was showing one arrogant prince around the palace, and in one room the floor had a sunken pool. The floor was so shiny and the water so clear, it was almost impossible to see the edge of the pool and distinguish it from the floor. The princess suggested to the prince he walk around the edge of the room, but the prince in his arrogance strode straight across and fell into the pool! The young princess couldn't help but giggle! The prince was so offended that he tore off her sari and exposed her naked body to all in the room! She was so incensed that she wanted to get revenge, and the cause of the war where millions died was programmed!
This is a classic story, and it's the story of mankind since forever.
This story from the Mahabharata isn't just an ancient tale; it's a mirror held up to our own lives. Think about how often offence and revenge ripple through our personal relationships, workplaces, or even global politics. The three rules—so simple yet so challenging—offer a way for peace, not just for a princess, but for all of us. What might change in our lives if we committed to not offending others, not taking offence, and certainly not seeking revenge when hurt?
It’s worth considering: How often do wars—whether between nations, families, or within ourselves—begin because we forget these three simple rules? Perhaps the epic’s wisdom lies not just in its drama, but in its invitation for us to rewrite our own stories.
How do you think these three rules could change the way we live today? Share your thoughts below:
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