The Ideal of Forgiveness - Sri Aurobindo

The moon was drifting slowly through the clouds.  Far below, the river danced along in its course mingling its murmur with the winds.  Wondrously beautiful was the earth in the half moon-light, half-darkness.  All around were forest retreats of Rishis, each of which put to shame the divine Nandan Garden.  Every hermitage with its trees, flowers and creepers took on a marvelous beauty.  On such a moon-enraptured night Brahmarshi Vashishtha said to his wife Arundhati Devi, "Devi, Please go and ask for some salt from Rishi Vishwamitra."  Amazed at this request Aurandhati Devi asked, "What is it you are commanding me to do?  I am at a loss to understand.  He who has robbed me of a hundred sons....."  Even as she said those words, her voice choked with sobs, memories of the past revived her heart, the abode of wonderful peace was pained to its depths.  She continued, "My hundred sons used to chant the Veda on such moon-lit nights, all of them learned in the Veda and devoted to Brahman; he has destroyed those hundred sons of mine; you are asking me to beg salt from his Ashram?  I am bewildered as to my duty."

© All India Magazine (February 2002 issue) published by Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry 605002.  Reprinted with permission.

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