JOIN USStreet smart people anywhere across the globe will vouch for the fact that there are no permanent friends or enemies in life.
In other words, the circumstances and the demands of life mostly dictate our moves in the arena of human relationships.
Modern lingo has coined a new word to define this aspect of human life with a term called a frenemy. A reading of the Hitopadesha will show that this concept is almost as old as mankind.
There once lived a rat called Palita and a cat called Lomasha in a tree. The rat lived in mortal fear of his natural enemy till the cat was trapped in a hunter’s net.
Just as the rat was gloating and celebrating the cat’s capture, a mongoose and an owl eyed him as a possible prey. The mouse was petrified.
He realised that his mortal enemy the cat had been actually unwittingly protecting him from other predators all these days. Suddenly it dawned on the mouse that if he played his cards right, both he and the cat could land themselves in a win-win situation.
He approached the cat warily and spelled out his idea. If the cat offered him asylum for a while from the owl and the mongoose, he could gnaw the net and set the cat free in bargain.
Though the cat was surprised by the rodent’s offer, he did not want to pass the plum deal. So, he allowed the rat to nestle against him inside the protection of the net till the predators went their way after a futile wait. Immediately, the mouse set out to keep his part of the bargain and freed the cat.
The incident, which warranted cementing relationships where none was found earlier, naturally makes one think that harmony will pervade our planet, if each of us started building bridges to salvage our equations with our fellow human beings.
So also, Lomasha was impressed by the intelligence of Palita and wished to befriend the wise rodent.
But the shrewd Palita pointed out that their brief friendship was forged for a small period of time for mutual convenience. Given their respective natures, it was impossible for them to remain staunch friends without one becoming the prey of another, hence they decided to part ways.
We must realise that Mother Nature has intended us to fit into her scheme of things. Each of us has been endowed with specific ‘gunas’ which serve the purpose of forming the larger picture. We may flout her rules at times to suit our own purpose for our convenience once in a while.
If, however, we hope to meddle with her design, we will be heading for doom eventually.