be true to your words at any cost

 

मार्ताण्डान्वयजन्मना क्षितिभृता चण्डालसेवा कृता

रामेणात्भुतविक्रमेण गहना संसेविता कन्दरा।

भीमाद्यैः शशिवंशजैर्नृपवरैर्दैन्यं कृतं रङ्कव-

त्संभाषापरिपालनाय पुरुषैः किं किं न चाङ्गीकृतम्॥

इन्दिश्चे स्प्रूचे ४८४० सुभाषितार्णवे

mārtāṇḍānvayajanmanā kṣitibhṛtā caṇḍālsevā kṛtā

rāṁeṇātbhutavikrameṇa gahanā saṁsevitā kandarā|

bhīmādyaiḥ śaśivaṁśajairnṛpavarairdainyaṁ kṛtaṁ raṅkava-

tsaṁbhāṣāparipālanāya puruṣaiḥ kiṁ kiṁ na cāṅgīkṛtam||

indiśce sprūce 4840 subhāṣitārṇave

A noble ruler (Harishchandra) of the solar race worked as a servant tending dead bodies in a burial ground, working under a Chandala.

Rama, of great prowess, whom all people reckon as the best among men, adjourned to the forest to dwell in remotest and obscure caves for long years in Dandakaranya

The eminent heroes born in the Lunar Race, Bhimasena and others had to live in disguise, leading a life not much better than beggars do, in the forest and later in the kingdom of Virata

Harishchandra did this in the process of fulfilling his obligations arising out promises made to Sage Visvamitra

Rama adjourned to Forest to fulfil the solemn promise give to His father Dasaratha.

Moreover, Pandavas had to adjourn for Vanavasa and ajnatha vasam to keep their words given at the time of a game of dice with Duryodhana.

Genuine heroes who honour their solemn promises and undertakings would not hesitate to do anything to honour their own words, their own resolves and to discharge their self-chosen obligations.

K V Ananthanarayanan