Thursday, March 24, 2011

is it always right cricket to "walk"?

व्रजन्ति ते मूढधियः पराभवं भवन्ति मायाविषु ये न मायिनः।
प्रविश्य हि घ्नन्ति शठास्तधाविधानसंवृताङ्गान्निशिता इवेषवः॥
भारविकृते किरातार्जुनीये महाकव्ये १---३०
vrajanti te mūḍhadhiyaḥ parābhavaṁ bhavanti māyāviṣu ye na māyinaḥ|
praviśya hi ghnanti śaṭhāstadhāvidhānasaṁvṛtāṅgānniśitā iveṣavaḥ||
bhāravikṛte kirātārjunīye mahākavye 1---30

Yudhistira had been forced to abdicate his kingdom and take shelter to a life in forest for 12 years as a result of an unjust bid in a game of chess with his cousin.  The same fate has overtakent his four younger brothers and also Draupadi.  The honest and noble king has accepted this imposition as a matter of propriety.  But his brothers and wife are not that magnanimous.  They had accepted the decision only with a view not to disobey their leader and the king.  They are not in anyway reconciled to this state of affairs. The dissent is most strong on the part of Draupadi because even her womanhood was challenged during the altercation that followed the game of chess and she was publicly humiliated by dussasana.  The four younger brothers and the king himself had the strength and popularity if they chose to spurn such unjust imposition cast on them.  So when Yudhistira reports the outcome of his discussion with the spy Draupadi and the four brothers could not conceal their indignation over the state of affairs and the stoic approach of the king on the issue.  Draupadi is the first to speak out . She says, "  The idiotic persons who are not deceitful while dealing with treacherous people will only be led from defeat to further defeat.  They will be torn asunder by the obstinate and cruel adversaries just as the sharp and poisoned arrows punctures the uncovered bosom of a warrior without armour and other protection.
While it will give one an aura of nobility to accept even unjust decision with peaceful acceptance and calm resignation,  such attitude is fatal to human beings in their existence in terra firma.   There will be always people who use unfair means to take advantage of others.  Even if the argument that a noble and decent person should not resort to such methods himself is a valid one, he cannot afford to   remain without offering any resistance if such practices are directed against him.  Noble declarations and stark realities of life could  be at placed at opposite poles in our day to day life.  With the power and popularity and resources in one's favour  if he  remains wedded to empty platitudes in the name of propriety when the adversary is using foul means he is inviting annihilation for himself and  others dependent on him.
The question whether it is right to just walk in cricket without seeing the umpire's hands up  when the opposite team bowls underarm is relevant here.



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