JUSTICE IS DIFFICULT, REVENGE IS EASY

We often see that the abused tend to follow the legacy of becoming the abuser. Students who get ragged in college go on to become the perpetrators as they become seniors. Quite often, a daughter-in-law bossed by the mother-in-law takes a similar role when she becomes one.

We may also observe that if one wants to take direct action against the party that hurts, troubles or abuses him, its easy for that person to harm or even kill them. This ruins the lives of both parties – the abused and the abuser. Revenge doesn’t build; it is destructive. In this vicious cycle of abuse and revenge, both are destroyed.

In fact, some adharmik forces use both of them for personal agenda. In Indian history, we see the great Jayachandra being revengeful of his own son-in-law Prithviraja. The latter helped the invader and both Jayachandra and Prithviraja were ruined.

Ambha wasn’t seeking justice. She was in quest of revenge, which she did get. But what was the over all gain? – Killed within 8 days. Brutally.

Seeking justice in the hand requires hard work, long waiting and being Dharmik to the core.

Pandavas were reluctant for justice. It meant overhauling the entire system. Abuse against them was an issue but they had to represent the whole of Hastinapura and beyond, who were oppressed by the misrule of Duryodhana and party. On a personal front, Bhima could’ve killed them, but that would’ve been injustice to the others who also suffered.

People fear the hard labour so they mostly prefer being abused and in turn abuse others, and feel good. They may even run away from reality by changing their attitude saying, “they’re seniors after all. They have given us so much, etc.”

Justice requires sacrifice and revenge demands hatred and anger. Justice builds, revenge breaks. Justice is conceptual while revenge is personal. In justice, we fight values; in revenge, we fight the person. In revenge, we minimize a family or a person. In justice, we reform and rebuild a society.

What are we looking for? – Easy revenge or difficult but dharmik justice?

The choice is ours and the consequences too.