A kingdom which was filled with abundance faced a severe famine for more than a year. Food became scarce to the people living within the kingdom as all the cultivation activities came to a grinding halt. The King of the region decided to distribute food to his subjects prepared from what was stored in the granary. Everyday breakfast, lunch and dinner was distributed to the people in the open ground.
One day as the King was distributing food an eagle flew above holding a venomous snake in its claws. From the mouth of the snake fell a drop of venom into the serving spoon that the King was using to serve food. Unaware of what had happened the King continued serving the food from the same spoon.
A few who consumed the poison laced food developed convulsions and one by one ten of them died within a few hours. The King and all those gathered there did not know what causes the death and the Kings physicians could not do anything. The people gathered there cursed their hard luck.
Now Chitragupta, the registrar in the court Yamadharma who keeps the track on the merits and demerits of the individuals was in a fix. He was confused as to who should be held responsible for the death of those ten people. It was not the fault of the eagle that carried the venomous snake in its claws as it was taking food to its hungry eaglets in the nest. The snake in the claws had no control on the drooling venom dripping out of its mouth. The King too did not know about the presence of poison in the food, if so he would not have served at all. So who has to be credited with the consequences of the deaths? Perplexed Chitragupta approached Yamadharma to request him for his guidance.
Yamadharma insisted the responsibility of the deaths and it’s consequences to be accounted to the Karma of the old woman who sat outside the Kings palace.
Chitragupta was surprised and confused how the old woman was connected to all this. He requested Yamadharma to clear his confusions.
Yamadharma said, “After that incidence many had been going to the King asking for help from him. This old woman sitting opposite to the palace would warn them if they eat anything given by the King they would die. She would say that the King of this kingdom had taken the contract to send people to yamaloka. The moment she told this, the people who had come there to pour out their woes and get some solution from their king would get demotivated and return back.”
Chitragupta asked Yamadharma, “How did the old woman got to know about the dripping poison? If she had seen it, would it not be her social responsibility to bring to the notice of the King and prevent the disaster???”
Yamadharma replied, “Chitragupta there are two kinds of people living on the earth plane, there is one section which react to a misfortunate incident by rushing forward to set it right. While the second section just enjoy the incident as an entertainment and have an immense pleasure in sharing the news with others. This old woman belong to the second section. This lot attract the Karma phala of the deed by being interested in spicing up incidence without having a heart to prevent it.”
Chitragupta agreed with what his master said. He further told his master that the worst thing to happen in the society was when mankind snub the social responsibility and yet have great expectations of a harmonious living.
