203. Lakshmi's Philosophy

After Murthy's elder brother Selvam had passed away, Murthy wanted to manage Selvam's lands, along with his own. But Selvam's wife Lakshmi did not agree to his proposal.

Lakshmi never stepped out of her house, during the time Selvam was alive. But, after Selvam's demise, she sat on the pial of her house and munching betel leaves spiced with lime and betel nut, directed the men employed by her for carrying out agricultural activities in the lands inherited by her from her late husband. 

"Sister in law! You don't know anything about farming. You won't be able to manage the lands. Sit at home and relax. I will look after your lands and deliver the harvest to your home" said Murthy.

"Don't bother, brother in law! You may look after your lands and I will look after mine" said Lakshmi, tersely. 

After that, Murthy began to give trouble to Lakshmi in various ways. Lakshmi thwarted his attempts, even without getting down from the pial of her house. 

One night, Murthy diverted the water from Lakshmi's field to his field. Lakshmi's men came to her and reported this.

"Take the Vilage Headman to the field and show him what Murthy has done" said Lakshmi. 

Accordingly, Lakshmi's men took the Village Headman to the field and showed the violation to him. The Village Headman imposed a fine of hundred rupees on Murthy.

"This is not adequate, madam. We need to retaliate. If you permit us, we will ensure that water flow his fields is stopped completely. No one can prove that it was done by us" said one of her men. 

"No need for such steps. The humiliation of paying a fine should be adequate punishment to him" said Lakshmi. 

But, Murthy was not put down by the humiliation suffered by him. He became even more infuriated. Like a wounded tiger waiting to strike, he was planning to hurt Lakshmin in a big way. 

When Lakshmi's fields were ready for harvest, Murthy set fire to the crops, during the night. Someone saw Murthy setting fire and caught him red-handed.

Some villagers knocked at the door of Lakshmi's house during the night and conveyed her the news.

"Okay. It is good that the fire was extinguished. I would like to meet the person who put out the fire and thank him" said Lakshmi. 

"Murthy had been creating trouble for you, since long. But, today, he was caught red-handed. We should make a complaint to the police. He will be imprisoned at least for six months" said a villager. 

"I don't want to give a police complaint. After all, the fire was put out and the crops have been saved. Let us leave the matter at this stage" said Lakshmi.

"Don't you think that the person who committed a wrong should be punished?" asked the villager in surprise.

"He is not going to be the only person punished. If he goes to jail, won't his wife and children undergo suffering? I know about the sufferings of a single mother. If you are still holding him, please set him free and let him go home."

"You are living up to your name 'Lakshmi.' You are indeed the embodiment of Lakshmi, the Goddess of compassion and grace. You may not be educated, but you have the wisdom of great people" said an old man from the village.

"What wisdom do I have? I just think that I should not cause any harm to any other person. Except for that, I don't know anything" said Lakshmi.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 21
Dread of Evil Deeds

Verse 203 (In Tamil)

aRivinuL ellAm thalai enba thIya
seRuvArkkum seyyA vidal.

Meaning:

Those who refrain from doing harm even to those who do harm to them are the wisest among the wise.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'latchumikkuth therindha niyAyam' by the same author)

Verse 204 (Soon)
Verse 202