Ahimsa – Being Kind

Kindness Brings Its Own Rewards

Once a master used to treat his slave, name Androcles, very badly. He beats him with a whip for the slightest fault. Moreover, he was half-starved. The slave was so tired of his life that one day he ran away into the jungle.

He heard a painful cry from some behind the bushes. He went towards it and there, he saw a lion groaning in pain. The lion was holding up and showing him his paw. A big thorn had pierced his paw. Androcles went near and took the thorn out. He then bound the wound with a piece of cloth. The lion felt relief. He lay at Androcles’ feet, began to wag his tail and lick his hands like a pet dog. They became friends and began to live together in the same cave.

A few months later, Androcles was caught by his master’s men. He was taken before the king who ordered that the slave be thrown before a hungry lion. The day was fixed. Thousands of people came to see the slave, Androcles. Poor Androcles was put in an enclosure. A hungry lion was let in. the lion roared loudly and rushed towards him. But upon reaching Androcles, the lion recognised the man who was his old friend. The lion at once fell down at his feet, licked his hand and wagged its tail. At his strange sight, the king and all his courtiers were filled with astonishment.

The king called Androcles to him. Androcles related the story of their friendship. Hearing it the king was so pleased that he set both Androcles and the lion free.

The moral of the story is:

“Kindness brings its own rewards”. Conduct is one’s personal behaviour towards others in daily life. The sum total of one’s virtues forms one’s character. It is character that gives real force and power to man. They say, “Knowledge is Power” but the wise man says, “Character is Power”. Without character the attainment of knowledge is impossible. A man of character is expected to be kind, merciful, truthful, forgiving and tolerant.

-by Swami Satyananda

This article was featured in YogaMail Jul-Sept 2009 issue.