ACTION BUT NOT INTENTION

It has been observed that people  seldom give the benefit of doubt  to their opponent's intentions. We normally judge ourselves  based on our intentions, but judge others based  on their action. 

It is not easy to understand  another person’s intentions by his actions.  One may have some inkling but we cannot make conclusions with regards to other people’s intentions.

Mahabharata therefore gives  the over all guideliness in regards to this principle.

When Viswamitra was suffering from severe hunger and thirst and he was wandering looking for food he came  to a house  that belonged to a swapacha, a dog eater.The food that he was about to cosume  was the meat of a dog.

Viswamitra justifies his action, and  Svapacha questions his actions.  Dog eater says, “even at the cost of dying you should not engage in this horrible activity of eating  flesh.”  Viswamitra counter argues saying, “I know what I am doing, and why  I am doing.  My survival will benefit  me and  the society.”

Viswamtira muni convinces Svapacha about his intentions, and basically asks svapacha to not judge him by his action. It was not a normal day and his actions were caused by a severe draught in the area, where there was no water and food.  Survival became the question without consideration of how. In normal day to day to activities that very action would have caused condemnation of  Viswamitra, but this situation was different. The cause of  condemnation became the tool for living dharmik life and spread dharmik life.

Therefore Dharmik tradition in such situation calls for active debate and discusson so that no one justifies wrong things for good cause or good things for a bad cause.
Good cause has to be achieved through actions ---bad or good depending upon the need of the hour.

If good actions are not available then bad actions for a good cause.  Others will judge our intentions through our actions but  when we are really sincere and honest, we will try to balance both
Action and intention.