Balance sheet of good and bad qualities

Good and Bad qualities

People usually throw this sentence on my face to make their weakness look very nominal “After all we are humans and each one of us has good and bad qualities. Am I right Guruji? Why even you have your set of negative and positive qualities. It’s natural!”

They think by making such statements they can get away with their weakness. Many times I don’t argue with them on such statements but that doesn’t mean they are right or that I agree with them. This statement itself tells us that they have erred and are arrogant enough not to accept it.

True unless enlightened, everyone is a combination of good and bad qualities. Does that mean that Shakuni and Dronocharya were same? No, certainly not. Shakuni died a pathetic death and Guru Dron was a war hero who transcended his body on his own and then, only his body was slain by Arjuna and even after that (they) Pandavas felt due respect and love with gratitude for their Guru and gave him his due respect.

Shall we have a look at the good and negative qualities of Shakuni and Guru Dronacharya?

Good qualities of Shakuni :

·         Highly intelligent. He was an equal to none other than Krishna in intelligence. Infact, Krishna himself says that only Shakuni could match him in intelligence.

·         He loved his sister like mad.

He let go off his grandeur and easy life as that of King of Khandhar (present day Afghanisthan) and lived in Hastinapur as just a brother of Gandhari and hence a royal guest. He was rebuked for the same by one and all. Only people who respected him and wanted to stay there were Dhritarashtra and Duryodhan and his brother. To be taunted by one and all and to swallow that day in and day out just to protect his sister’s rights is no ordinary love.

·         He was a great warrior.

·         He was player par excellence in the game of dice. Yes, it is also a great ability.

Negative qualities of Shakuni :

·         His blind love for Gandhari, his sister blinded him to such an extent that he resolved to put an end to Kuru dynasty for getting Gandhari married to blind King Dhritarashtra.  He in his hatred did not see the pain Gandhari would’ve to bear due to death of her sons. This ‘hatred’ was the only negative attitude in him that made him use his intelligence (which was on par with Krishna) to destructive purpose.

Even his love for Gandhari became tainted with ‘moham’ attachment as it gave rise to hatred. Unless love is based on Dharma, it becomes ‘lust’. Love creates something beautiful or meaningful. If it is destructive in any area then it is ‘lust’ and not love. Love can never hurt. If it hurts then it is not love.

...contd.....