Bunch of scorpions happened to be stuck in a trap and #Kautilya a.k.a. #Chanakya took it upon himself to untangle and set them free. Every time he tried to free a scorpion, it would try to sting him. Yet, undeterred Kautilya would tactfully liberate each one of them. Observing this his student Sharangarao asked “Acharya (professor), why are you trying to free those thankless creatures. Why not let them suffer and die?” Smilingly, Kautilya replied, “Their PRAVRUTTI (Nature) is to sting, my NIVRUTTI (duty) to try and set them free.” This made Sharangarao think for a while before asking, “So Acharya, should we also let those corrupt and violent humans free from punishment?” Kautilya replied, “Don’t compare the mindless scorpions with those savage people, who deserve to be uprooted without a trace. But make sure you don’t hate, loathe or, even, develop contempt for them. You must always bear in mind that: you may or may not become like the person you adore, but you will most definitely become the person you hate and loathe.”
Translated from Vishakadutta’s Sanskrit play Mudrarakshasa by U Mahesh Prabhu
