the capacity to admit the greatness in others and accept them gracefully

 

वैरिणोऽपि कृताद्भुतकर्माणः स्तुतिभाजनं भवितुमर्हन्ति॥

सोमेश्वरकृते उल्लाघराघवे

vairiṇo'pi kṛtādbhutakarmāṇaḥ stutibhājanaṁ bhavitumarhanti||

someśvarakṛte ullāgharāghave

A great quote from the drama Ullagharaghava.. by poet Somshvaradeva.. The drama is based on Ramayanam

the quote, when translated reads as

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When some wonderful and great deed is performed, such deed deserves great praise, even if the person who accomplished it is an arch enemy or rival..

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Respect for the opposition and appreciation for the good even in the enemies is the hallmark of any civilized person..

But silly fellows would try to find some imaginary flaw in the performance of others and condemn them even at the time of glory..

What we talk of as sportsman spirit is just the capacity to admit the greatness in others and accept them gracefully.. But that comes to us very rarely

When Hanuman and Ravana meet, Ravana is impressed by the valour of Anjaneya and even exclaims whether this one is just an incarnation of Bhagavan Nandi..

Anjaneya is equally impressed.. He ponders over the grace, valour, splendour .. all seen in abundance in Ravana and just feels sorry that scant respect for the established dharma alone is bringing the downfall of Ravana.

When Ravana lies down his life in the great battle, Rama directs Vibheeshana to give a funeral to the departed anti hero.. a funeral that would befit the splendour of the brave man..

Praising the virtues in an enemy often involves admitting a sort of inferiority on our part in comparison.. Admitting that takes a lot of character and grace too..

Have a nice day.

Regards

k v ananthanarayanan