Why Sit in Judgement?

An able king, husband and father, sent his wife to meet his brother, a rishi who lived in the forest, along with an elaborate meal. How would she cross the river? The king said, “At the river, fold your hands and say, if my husband, the king, has lived the life of a brahmachari since birth, then let this river part and make way for us.” The puzzled queen did so with utter faith and the river parted. The rishi greeted the queen and her entourage and relished the meal she got for him. The rishi blessed his sister-in-law. The queen asked the rishi how she could cross the river to return home. The sage replied, “Say, if my brother-in-law, the rishi, has maintained a perfect fast since he became a recluse, then, O river, let me pass.” Again the queen did as she was told, the river parted and they reached home. The queen then asked a minister: why was she told to say things different from the lives the two men were leading? The king was not a brahmachari and the sage was not fasting. Yet, the river parted! The minister replied, “Your majesty, never take appearances to be reality. The king has always yearned to be a recluse like his brother but had to remain king to honour his father’s wishes. The rishi did not need to eat but he did so to honour your efforts and his brother’s desire to feed him. So, neither brother was involved in their actions; they did it for nishkamya (detached, dutiful action done with equanimity) — hence, they were not bound by their actions.

Source: Economic Times, 28/11/2018