617. The Goddess of Wealth

"Grandpa, who are Sridevi and Moodevi?" Nitish asked his grandfather Ekambaram.

Nitish's father Kumar, who was sitting on the sofa watching the TV, lowered the volume of the TV so that he could listen to his father's answer to Nitish's question.

"Sridevi is Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. Moodevi, her elder sister is the Goddess of Adversity or Misfortune" said Ekambaram. 

"Is Moodevi a bad person?"

"No. We can't say she is bad. We expect God to be a benefactor, a power that will help us. We worship Lakshmi, expecting that She will bestow riches on us. It is believed that Moodevi will stop good things from happening to us."

Oh! That's why we don't worship Moodevi!"

"Yes."

"Are Sridevi and Moodevi real?"

"We go to the temple and pray to God. Is it not because we believe that there is God? The perception about the existence of Sridevi and Moodevi is also based on belief."

"If some student in my class doesn't study well, my class teacher will call him 'Moodevi,' Moodevi is a feminine name. But I find my my class teacher calling a boy by this feminine name, amusing."

"It is not only your class teacher who does so. Many people have the practice of calling men, 'Moodevi,' while criticizing them. It is because, the name Moodevi is not used to depict a person. Though as per Hindu mythology, Moodevi is the elder sister of Lakshmi, in practice, Moodevi is associated with anything despicable. The term is used to refer to undesirable habits and practices, varying from physical factors like lack of cleanliness and hygiene to mindsets and attitudes like laziness, not making efforts, sitting idle etc."

"We need only Lakshmi. We should keep away from Moodevi. Shouldn't we, grandpa?"

"Yes. Lakshmi is auspicious. She represents good things. She will give us riches, fortune, health  and happiness. But, how can we get good things? Can we get them, if we are sitting idle?" asked Ekambaram.

Nitish nodded his head, signaling his agreement with his grandfather's words.

"Grandpa! It is me who is asking you the questions. But, you keep looking at daddy, while answering my questions. Don't you see that daddy is watching the TV?" asked Nitish. 

"Yes. But your father is also listening to our conversation. That is why I am looking at him also, while talking to you" said Ekambram, looking at both his son and his grandson and smiling.

Nitish turned to Kumar and asked him, "Dad! Don't you know these things? Didn't grandpa tell you about these, when you were a boy?"

Even before Kumar could reply to his son, Ekambaram said, "I have told your father many times about these concepts. But, he might have forgotten. It is better that he hears them again so that these will be deeply impressed on his mind." 

He looked at Kumar with a smirky expression on his face and continued talking to his grandson. 

"So, where were we? Yes...Lakshmi will do good to us. But, if we sit idle, good things won't come to us on their own. Hard work, efforts, enthusiasm, energy, interest, involvement, concentration, dedication cleanliness, good intentions - these attributes represent Lakshmi. If we have these attributes, good things will happen to us. We will experience success. Even fortune will favoour us. Dirt, garbage, laziness, slumber, passivity, lack of motivation, diffidence - these attributes represent Moodevi. If someone has these attributes, he won't see good things happening to him. Thus, when we say Laksmi, we mean being healthy, active and energetic, both physically and mentally. When we say Moodevi, we mean the opposite state. Do you understand?"

Nitish nodded his head enthusiastically, indicating that he understood his grandfather's message.

Kumar also understood the message indirectly conveyed to him by his father: 'I have worked hard, earned money and created some assets. But, you are sitting idle, without going for any job, banking on the confidence that you can manage to live on the wealth created by me!'

Ekambaram turned to his son and smiled. Kumar turned his face away, in anger.

"Dad! You have told me many times straight over my face that I am lazy and that I am living my life on the wealth created by you. Now, you are trying to convey the same message to me indirectly, in the guise of answering the questions posed to you by your grandson!' thought Kumar.

"The messages directly conveyed to you several times by me have not had an impact on you. Is this indirect message going to bring about a change in your attitude?' thought Eakambaram.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 617 (in Tamil):
madi uLAL mAmugadi enba madi ilAn
thaL uLAn thAmaraiyinAL.

Meaning:

They say that the dark angel Moodevi (the Goddess of Adversity) dwells with laziness, and the Lakshmi (the Goddess of Prosperity) dwells with the labour of the industrious.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'Lakshmiyin akkA' by the same author.) 

Verse 618 (soon)
Verse 616

616. A Conversation Outside the Restaurant

When I was about t step into that restaurant, a person coming out of the restaurant stared at me for a while and asked me, "Aren't you the son of Mr. Sivaraman?"

"Yes. But I am unable to place you!" I said. 

"What Chandran, are you not able to recognize me? I am Jambu, who was a tenant in your house" he replied.

"Oh! I am sorry I couldn't remember you. It it was several years back. Hope every one in your family is fine."

I tried to end the conversation and enter the restaurant.

"Just a minute, Chandran! Why are you in a hurry?" Jambu held my hand with his and continued. "At that time, you were a boy, studying in the school. We were staying in a portion adjacent to yours. Being a boy, you wouldn't have interacted with us a lot. Your father was a noble person. I can never forget him. How is he?"

"He passed away some years back."

"Oh, what a tragedy! Of course, he would have been quite old. Yet, I am shocked to hear about his demise. This world needs people like him. You wouldn't have known much about me. At that time, I was working as a sales executive in a company. My salary was low. The job was tough. If I didn't reach the target for a month, I wouldn't be paid the salary for that month. My company would release the salary only after 15 to 20 days, as a punishment for my failure to reach the target.

"I struggled a lot to run my family. Some months, I was not able to pay the house rent in time. But, your father was never annoyed by the delay. 'What can you  do, if you don't get your salary in time? You can pay me after receiving your salary' he would say. How kind and how understanding! Whenever I was feeling rejected, he would enthuse me saying, 'Don't feel disheartened. You have been working hard. Be patient. Your efforts will definitely be rewarded.' I used to think that he was just trying to make me feel good.

"We stayed in your house for about two years. After that, we had to move to another other area, where my son's school was located. Over a period, I was able to succeed in my efforts. I realized that your father's words were not words of consolation, but words of wisdom. Now, I have my own business and I am doing well in life. I would often think about visiting your father and thanking him for his valuable advice. But, somehow, I couldn't make it. And he is not there now. Are you living in the same house?"

"No."

"Oh! You would have got your house demolished and rebuilt it as an apartment complex. That is what people do nowadays. Are you looking after your father's business now?"

As I was thinking what reply I should give to his questions, he looked at his watch and said, "I have to meet someone. It is getting late. Bye." 

He then walked away.

When I entered the restaurant, the owner of the restaurant, sitting at the cash counter told me in a stern voice, "Why should you stand at the entrance and chat with someone, for hours together? Don't you know that you have to report for duty?"

I looked at the wall clock hung above his head. It was still five minutes for my shift to start. But, he chided me, as if I chatted with someone and reported for duty late!

But, I couldn't protest. He was my employer. I was an underpaid server working for him. I cannot point out to him that he was wrong.

Mr. Jambu, a tenant in our house, was inspired by my father's words and came up in life, by making efforts.

'Even a person, who is in a good position, should make efforts to reach a higher position. If a person remains idle, feeling complacent and doesn't make efforts, he will go down from his position' my father had told me many times.

But, I ignored his advice and chose to be idle. As a result, unable to successfully run the business established by him, after his death, I had to wind up the business. And, I had to sell our house, for meeting the liabilities, incurred in my business. 

After winding up my business, I took up a job as a server in a small restaurant, for my survival.

Quietly accepting the reprimand of the restaurant owner, I got into the restaurant to start doing my work.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 616 (in Tamil):
muyaRchi thiruvinai Akkum muyaRRinmai
inmai puguththi vidum.

Meaning:

Efforts will produce wealth; idleness will bring poverty.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'Ottal vAsalil oru sandhippu' by the same author.) 

Verse 617
Verse 615

141. Missed the Bus

The last bus had left.

'I shouldn't have come to this town to witness a dance performance' Sruti cursed herself.

'I should have left the theatre a little earlier, without sitting through the show till the end. I foolishly stayed till the end, out of my interest and a false hope that I would be able to catch the last bus.'

When Sruti told her husband Krish about her plan to go to this town to watch the dance show, Krish asked her, "Should you go to a far off place to watch adance show?"

"We will never have a chance to watch such shows in our place. If you don't like the idea of my going alone, why don't you come with me?" replied Sruti.

"I have to prepare for tomorrow's class. Moreover, I don't have the patience to sit for two hours and watch a dance performance, with no clue about the meaning of the movements of the artist. You may travel by bus. But, take care to catch the last bus leaving that place at 9.10 pm" said Krish.

"A friend of mine residing in that town is accompanying me to the show. In case I miss the last bus, I will stay with her for the night and return in the morning. If I have to inform you over the phone, I should call the principal's home and request him to inform you. Though he is friendly towards you, giving him such trouble won't be appropriate. So, don't worry, if you don't get any message from me."

Krish was working as a lecturer in a college, located in a place twenty kilometers away from the town. The teaching staff and other employees working in the college were provided residential quarters in the campus, which had essential facilities like shops, medical facilities etc.

The place was a small village. The village had no theatre or other sources to provide entertainment. Sometimes, Krish and Sruti would come to the city during weekends, to watch a movie or to do shopping. For the first time, Sruti traveled to the town alone, to witness a dance recital.

The plan was for Sruti to visit her friend's house and then proceed to the show along with her. 

When Sruti visited her friend's house, she found that the house was locked. A neighbour informed Sruti that her friend had to unexpectedly leave the town earlier that day, on an emergency.

Thus, the option of staying with her friend for the night also became unavailable to Sruti.

As Sruti was thinking about what to do and weighing the option of staying in a hotel, she heard someone calling out her name.

"How are you, Sruti?"

Momentarily startled by someone addressing her, when she was stranded in that town, she turned back to see who the person was.

Sudhakar! Her classmate in the college.

"Oh, Sudhakar! What a surprise! I missed the last bus to my place and I am stranded here" said Sruti.

"I have the same problem too. Don't worry. I will take care of you" said Sushakar, smiling.

A feeling of apprehension began to raise in Sruti's mind.

When Sruti was studying in the college, Sudhakar was madly in love with her. Even after Sruti had rejected his overtures several times, Sudhakar continued to pester her. 

Sruti learnt that Sudhakar had entered into a bet with some of his friends that he would somehow win over her.

It was only after Sruti threatened to file a police complaint against him that Sudhakar stopped making overtures to her.

"I don't know what to do. Is there a good hotel, safe for a woman to stay?" asked Sruti.

"This is a small town. The safest place here is this bench at the bus stand. If you are prepared to sit her for the entire night, I will remain here, guarding you" said Sudhakar.

Wondering whether she could be sitting on the bench for the entire night, Sruti cursed herself again, for her foolish complacency that resulted in her missing the bus.

"Don't worry. I have someone known to me living in this town. I will take you to their house. You can stay there for the night" said Sudhakar.

"What about you?" asked Sruti.

"I can manage to lie down even on the pavement. Don't worry about me."

After being in a dilemma for a couple of minutes about going with Sudhakar to the house of the person known to him, Sruti made up her mind to go with him.

Sudhakar engaged a cycle rickshaw and gave the rickshaw operator directions for the destination. The rickshaw began to move, carrying the two of them.

The rickshaw went on a main road for some distance and suddenly turned into a narrow lane. Sruti's sense of apprehension was intensified.

The door of the house was knocked at 5 o' clock in the morning.

The old lady who opened the door looked at Sudhakar and nodded her head.

Sruti who was inside the house stood up, on seeing Sudhakar enter the house.

"You have come so early!" she said, smiling at Sudhakar.

"Yes. I wanted to take you to the bus stand in time for you to get the first bus leaving to your place" said Sudhakar.

Sruti looked at the old lady and said, "I take leave of you, madam! I am thankful to you for giving me shelter in your house" said Sruti, looking at the old lady. 

"This is a small house. Well-to-do people like you may not find staying here comfortable. I am happy that you stayed here" said the old lady.

"She had no other option. She chose staying here over sitting on a bench at the bus stand for the entire night!" said Sudhakar, laughing.

When the two were walking to the bus stand, Sruti told Sudhakar, "I am sorry, Sudhakar. Considering how you were pursuing me in the college, I was apprehensive of your intentions. But, you acted like a perfect gentleman and helped me get a safe place to stay during the night. I am happy that you have changed" said Sruti, in an apologetic tone.

"I have not changed Sruti, It is you who have changed!"

"What do you mean?"

"When I went after you in the college, you were an unmarried woman. Now, you are married to someone. I moved with you in a way I should, with the wife of another man" said Sudhakar.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 15
Not Desiring Another Man's Wife

Verse 141 (In Tamil)

piRan poruLAL pettu ozhugum pEdhaimai jnAlaththu
aRam poruL kaNdArkaN il.

Meaning:

The indiscretion of desiring another man’s wife will not be found

in those who are enlightened about virtue and possession.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thavaRa vitta bus' by the same author)

Verse 142 (Soon)
Verse 140

615. Praise or Derision?

"Were you able to get results today?" Karpagam asked her husband Damodaran, even as he was stepping into the house.

"Yes, at last. I was able to secure admission for Guna in a good college. Valli's husband was overwhelmed with joy. When he thanked me repeatedly, I was a bit embarrassed." 

"You took leave for four or five days, knocked the door of several colleges and got admission in a good college for his son. Won't he feel grateful?"

"Yes. Guna's scores being not so impressive, getting him admission in a good college, without paying donation, was a challenge. First, I should search and find colleges with a reasonable reputation that would accept students who are not top scorers. I should then shortlist the colleges that won't ask for a donation. And finally, I should visit those colleges, find out whether they would give admission to Guna, given the scores he has got. Valli's husband is not a person with worldly knowledge. When my sister Valli requested me to help her son get admission in a good college, how can I help not helping her?"

"I wonder how many people, driven by their mission to help other people, will take leave for four or five days and tirelessly visit several colleges every day, without even bothering to have their food at the right time!" 

"I am unable to comprehend whether you are appreciating me or deriding me!" said Damodaran.

"Do you think that I will deride you for helping others? I only wanted to point out that you are as much persevering in your efforts to help other people as you are in doing things for our family. On several occasions, you have helped my relatives also. When my younger brother was unjustly dismissed by his company, even the trade union, of which he was a member, did not come to his help. It was you, who engaged a lawyer, fought his case before the Labour Commissioner and got him reinstated. You even refused to get the fee you paid to the lawyer reimbursed by my brother. You have not even told me how much you paid for the lawyer, despite my asking you about this repeatedly. If I were to find fault with you, even my parents would ostracize me!" said Karpagam, looking at her husband, proudly.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 615 (in Tamil):
inbam vizhaiyAn vinai vizhaivAn than kELir
thunbam thudaiththu UnRum thUN.

Meaning:

He who desires not pleasure, but desires labour, will be a pillar for one’s kin – wiping and bearing their woes.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kaRpagaththin madhippIdu' by the same author.) 

Verse 616
Verse 614

613. Helping A Friend

"With the scores obtained by my son in his higher secondary examination, he will be able to get a seat in AK College, under the management quota. But they will demand a sizeable sum as donation. I won't be able to afford it. This is disappointing!" Santhamurthy told his friend Pushpavanam.

"Can he not get admission in some other good college?" asked Pushpavanam.

"Maybe he can. But, as you know, AK College is the dream of many an aspiring student. They coach very well. If a student studies well and gets good scores in the tests, he will get a scholarship. Their campus placement system is also very efficient. Many reputed companies come to their college and recruit the students, during the final year. Thus one will get a job, that too in a good company, immediately after completing his education. If my son had scored one or two percent more, he would have got admission in that college, even under the government quota. But, my son doesn't seem to be having the luck to get an admission in AK College" said Santhamurthy, with a sigh. 

"If you were t admit your son in some other college, by which date you have to do so?"

"Admissions will take place only after counseling. The counseling dates have not yet been announced. Based on my son's scores, I can only make a guess about in which colleges he will be able to get admission. Why are you asking this? Do you have any suggestions?"

"I have no idea about college admissions. My daughter is studying in eighth grade. I still have four more years to be concerned about college admission" said Pushpavanam, laughing.

After a week, Santhamurthy received a call from Pushpavanam.

"Hey, Santhamurthy! Your son has got admission in AK College. You don't have to pay any donation" said Pushpavanam, in an excited tone.

"What do you mean? How is it possible?" asked Santhamurthy, perplexed.

"After you had told me about your desire to secure an admission for your son in AK College, I gathered information about that college. I learnt an MP (Member of Parliament) has a close connection with the Chairman of that college and that every year, the Chairman has been giving admission to one or two candidates recommended by the MP, without demanding any donation.

"Then, I inquired about the MP's background. When I heard the name of the village he hailed from, I remembered that one Krishnakumar, who studied with me in the college, also hailed from that village. After completing my college education, I was not in touch with him. In fact, we were not close friends, but I was acquainted with him.

"I got the contact details of Krishnakumar, through a friend of mine, who himself tapped his friends to trace Krishnakumar. I spoke to Krishnakumar over phone. He was surprised at my contacting him, after a gap of several years. Even at the outset, I told Krishnakumar that I was contacting him only for seeking his help, since I believed a straightforward approach would get a better reception. 

When I told him about getting admission into AK College, using the influence of the MP from his place, he told me that he was well acquainted wit the MP.

"He said that he should talk to the MP in person but that the MP was in Delhi. I suggested that both of us go to Delhi and meet him. He readily agreed. Since traveling by flight would be expensive, we two travelled to Delhi by train, after booking the tickets through 'tatkal'* and met the MP. He agreed to recommend the seat to your son. I understand that normally he does it for money. But, since Krishnakumar was close to him, he didn't ask for money. We should thank Krishnakumar, who, accepting my request, came to Delhi, by sparing his valuable time. Right now, I am calling you from Delhi."

Santhamurthy remained silent, not knowing what to say.

"What is it? There is no response from you!" prodded Pushpavanam.

"What can I say? On learning my desire to get my son admitted in AK College, you had taken herculean efforts, as if you were doing it for your son, from gathering information about the admission process of the college, through thinking of approaching the MP through a classmate of yours, tracing your classmate, talking to him, persuading him to go to Delhi to meet the MP, to going to Delhi with him, meeting the MP and getting the admission! But, I am not surprised, because I know that once you decide to do something, you will have the determination to make all possible efforts to get it done, however difficult the task may appear to be. Whether you are doing something for you, or for someone else, you work with the same zeal and perseverance. Helping other people has always been your second nature. I can never thank you enough for what you have done" said Santhamurthy, overwhelmed by the feelings of joy and gratitude.

"You cannot evade your liability by saying that helping others is my second nature. You have to reimburse me the travel expenses and board and lodging expenses incurred by the two of us!" said Pushpavanam, laughing.

*tatkal - a system of booking train tickets, a day before the journey by paying a higher price for the ticket (followed in India)

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 613 (in Tamil):
thALANmai ennum thagaimaikkaN thangiRRE
vELANmai ennum serukku.

Meaning:

The greatness of benevolence rests on the dignity of laboriousness or perseverance.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'seat kidaikkumA?' by the same author.) 

Verse 614
Verse 612

1138. The Army Chief's Faux Pas

"Indrakumari. What an impressive name! It means the daughter of Indra, the Lord of the Celestials" said the Army Chief Karthaveeriyan.

"Don't read too much into the meaning of my name. My father is not a chieftain like Indra. Nor is he someone well-versed in the art of war like you. He is just a machineman, who makes weapons using a simple tools" said Indrakumari.

"Listening to you gives me the impression that your father is adept in the use of language. You should have inherited the power of expression from him. Just as your father creates weapons that comes to my aid in fighting the war, he has also created you, a beauty glittering like a golden statue, to be my life partner."

Indrakumari was thrilled to hear the words of the army chief.

"When are you going to ask my father to give his consent for you to marry this golden statue?"

"Though I am known for my bravery in the battle field, when it comes to the task of seeking your hand in marriage from your father, I am a bit fearful. Give me some time to muster some courage, to meet your father and talk to him."

"If the king asks you to fight a war, you will muster your troops in no time and march towards the battle field. But you are asking me to give you time to muster the courage, before you could talk to my father!" said Indrakumari, smiling.

When Karthaveeriyan went to the palace to meet the king, he had a pleasant surprise.

The queen, the minister, the princess and two of the princess' friends were also present in the king's chamber. One of the two friends was Indrakumari.

The king had an important message to be conveyed to Karthaveeriyan.

Karthaveeriyan was listening keenly to the king's words, even while wondering why Indrakumari had not told him that she was a friend of the princess.

"The spies of the enemy king are roaming about in the capital. Therefore, women from the royal families need more protection. The minister's daughter will be leaving to her husband's place, after her marriage. She needs to be taken there with adequate security. Therefore..."

"I myself will accompany Indra's daughter, to ensure her security" said Karthaveeriyan.

For a moment, every one looked at Karthaveeriyan. perplexed by his words. The princess, who was quick to discern the reason for Karthaveeriyan's faux pas, turned  to Indrakumari and smiled. Indrakumari bowed down her head, feeling embarrassed.

The king and others, who watched this, understood the situation and laughed. 

It took some time for the army chief to realize that he had said 'Indra's daughter,' instead of saying 'the minister's daughter,' because he was thinking about Indrakumari in his mind!

Thirukkural
Section 3

Love

Chapter 114
Shedding Shyness

Verse 1138 (in Tamil):
niRai ariyar man aLiyar ennAdu kAmam
maRai irandhu manRu padum.

Meaning:

Love that is hidden in the mind comes out in the open, without having considerations for a person as someone to be pitied or someone who is inhibited by chaste. 

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'dhaLapadhiyin thadumARRam' by the same author.)

Verse 1139 (Soon)
Verse 1137

614. An Offer To Help

"My husband passed away suddenly, orphaning me and my daughter Sangheeta. How am I going to take care of my daughter? How will I perform her marriage?" lamented Parvathy.

"Don't worry, Parvathy. Some of your relatives will help you" said her neighbour Devi.

More than six months had passed since the demise of Parvathy's husband. Parvathy was running her family with great difficulty.

One day, Murugan, a son of Parathy's cousin came to see her.

"I heard about the demise of uncle, only recently. I thought I should meet you and see how you have been coping" he said.

"Even my close relatives are not bothered to check whether we are alive or dead. But, you have taken so much interest in us and come to see us. I feel heartened" said Parvathy, touched by Murugan's concern.

After getting to know of Parvathy's plight, Murugan told her, "Don't worry about Sangheeta, auntie! She is like my sister. It is my responsibility to get her a good job. Let her work for some time. I will look for a good match and arranger to get her married within the next two or three years" Murugan assured Parvathy.

"May God bless you!" said Parvathy, overwhelmed by his willingness to help.

Parvathy told Devi about Murugan's visit and his assurance.

"It is amazing that we have such kind people in the present times!" exclaimed Devi.

Several months passed since Murugan's visit. He didn't visit Parvathy again. There was no communication from him, either. 

"He spoke to me so assuringly. But, I wonder why there has been no further communication from him" Parvathy told Devi.

"Maybe, he is busy with his job. Did he give you his address or phone number? Share it with me and I will ask my husband to contact him!" said Devi.

"I don't have his address. He gave me a phone number for contacting him, in case of any emergency. I think it is the phone number of one of his friends." 

"Give me that number. I will ask my husband to call that number and contact him" said Devi.

Devi's husband Velayudham dialed the number given by Parvathy. When the phone was picked up at the other end, Velayudham said, "Your friend Murugan gave us this number. Can I speak to him?"

"Has Murugan borrowed money from you?" asked Murugan's friend

"No such thing. Murugan had visited his aunt Parvathy sometime back. She told her that he would get a job for her daughter. Subsequently, he didn't contact her. I am Parvathy's neighbour. She wanted me to check with him" said Velayutham.

Murugan's friend laughed out loud and said, "Murugan promised to get a job for someone! He himself doesn't have a job and been roaming about idly. I have urged him several times to take up some job or other. But he has not even made an attempt to search for a job. His promising to get a job for someone is funny. Perhaps, he would have said so, just to show himself off as a benefactor."

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 62
Perseverance

Verse 614 (in Tamil):
thALANmai illAdhAn vELANmai pedi kai
vALANmai pOlak kedum.

Meaning:

Benevolence of the person without persistence

will turn futile like a sword in the hands of a coward.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'murugan udhavuvAnA?' by the same author.) 

Verse 615
Verse 613