Retold by DKM Kartha
क्रोधाद् भवति सम्मोह:। भीष्मपर्व (महाभारत 26.63)
A deluded mind results from anger.
क्रोधो हि धर्म हरित्। — आदिपर्व (महाभारत 42.8)
Rage destroys the sense of ethics in us and the cosmic order of dhaRma.
क्रोधमुत्पतितं जहि। — आदिपर्व (महाभारत 178.22)
When or if anger arises in us, we should destroy it forthwith.
क्रोधो हंता मनुष्याणां क्रोधो भावयिता पुन:। वनपर्व (महाभारत 29.1)
Anger lead men to death, but if conquered anger gives new life.
क्रोध: परमदारुण:। वनपर्व (महाभारत 29.2)
There is nothing more horrendous than Anger.
क्रोधमूलो विनाशो हि प्रजानामिह दृश्यते। वनपर्व (महाभारत29.21)
At the root of the destruction of humans is anger.
क्रोधं त्यक्त्वा तु पुरुष: सम्यक् तेजाऽभिपद्यते। वनपर्व (महाभारत 29.22)
Remove anger from yourself, then your real spiritual radiance will emerge.
क्रोधस्त्वपण्डितै: शश्वत्तेज इत्यभिधीयते। वनपर्व (महाभारत 29.22)
Only stupid people think anger and spiritual radiance (tEjas) as the same.
क्रोधमूलो हि विग्रह:। वनपर्व (महाभारत 29.25)
At the root of all conflict including war is anger.
क्रोध: शत्रु: शरीरस्थो मनुष्याणाम्। वनपर्व (महाभारत 206.32)
In humans, anger is the enemy resident inside us.
क्रोधं हित्वा न शोचति। वनपर्व (महाभारत 313.78)
Give up anger — and you will never regret that action.
क्रोध: सुदुर्जय: शत्रु:। वनपर्व (महाभारत 313.92)
Anger is the enemy hardest to defeat.
क्रोधं कुर्यान्नचाकस्मात्। शांतिपर्व (महाभारत 70.11)
If you need to be angry, be angry only after thinking long and hard about it. Do not be angry impulsively.
क्रोधाद् दानफलं हंति। आश्वमेधिकपर्व (महाभारत 90.102)
Anger destroys the good effect of generous behavior.
नाकार्यं न च मर्यादां नरः क्रुद्धोऽनुपश्यति ॥ (महाभारत 3|9|18)
An angry man does not see what should not be done and which borders not to cross.
Once the great devotional poet SRee samaRtth rAmadaas was writing the famous "SRee-rAmadAsa rAmayaNam." He sang to his disciples portions that he had already finished. In a hidden form SRee Hanoomaan also was listening to the scripture. He is present wherever Lord rAma is being praised.
The poet samaRtth rAmadas was describing Lord Hanoomaan's visit to aSOka-vanam in SRee-lanka and he sang aloud:
"Hanoomaan saw white flowers in the aSOka forest where Princess Jaanaki was a prisoner among rAkshasi-s."
Hearing this, Lord HanoomAn suddenly became visible. He challenged the poet: "You are wrong!! Correct your lines kindly. I did not see any white flowers in the aSOka forest."
SRee samaRtth rAmadAs said: "I apologize for arguing with YOU, Lord Hanooman! But YOU did see white flowers. I am not telling a lie!"
HanoomAn: "How can you speak like this? I was the one who was actually there. How can my recollection be wrong? You were not there, so how can you be sure that you are right?
SRee rAmadAsa: A poet has PRakhya, the ability to see events past, present, and future. And he has the ability of Akhya, the power to describe his inner vision in accurate and beautiful words so that others also experience it. BhagavAn SReerAma has given me both those abilities. And that is why I am singing that You, O Lord rAmadAsa, saw white flowers in aSOka forest."
The argument finally reached the highest authority: Lord SRee-rAmachandra Himself.
Using HIS divya-dR^shTi (= divine insight) the Lord saw the truth of the matter.
BhagavAn said: In fact, poet samaRtth rAmadAs is right: Those flowers in the aSOka forest where white. But HanoomAn also is right: He saw them as red flowers.
"Why did HanoomAn see white as red? Because His eyes were blood-red with anger at seeing the prisoner status of Princess JAnaki, and at witnessing all the adhARmic atrocities going on in the evil palace of the demonic King rAvaNa such as drinking and debauchery."
BhagavAn resumed: This teaches us that two people with opposing views can be both right, but we have to know the context and we have to find out what mental and physical state the witnesses were in. This also teaches us that Hanoomaan did not act on His anger right away impulsively. He could have easily destroyed the enemies, but he returned to me and my army giving me the chance to recover my beloved by my own valor.”
Thus it is that Lord SRee-rAma ended the temporary dispute between the Poet and the Divine Devotee.