Unveiling the Toxicity: Exploring Reasons Why Some Narratives Should Remain Untold
In the ancient Hindu tales, a story from the Mahabharata serves as a poignant reminder of the destructive consequences of gossip and quick judgments. The tale, often referred to as "The Moral of the Moor Patti," is a timeless lesson that continues to shape values and teach important ethical principles.
The story unfolds with a noble king serving poisoned kheer to sages, unaware that it was contaminated. Tragically, the sages died after consuming the kheer. The king, unknowingly, became the unwitting pawn in a chain of events set in motion by an old woman who spread judgement about the king without knowing the truth.
Chitragupta, the divine accountant of karma, was left confused about who to blame for the tragedy. In an attempt to find the answer, he was advised by Lord Yama to observe the kingdom carefully. Chitragupta, disguised as a traveler, encountered the old woman, but she spread judgement about the king without knowing the truth. It was then that Chitragupta realised the old woman's words carried a "different kind of poison" that stained the king's name, intent, and honor.
The karmic burden for the tragedy did not fall on the eagle, the snake, the cook, or even the king, but on the old woman who spread judgement. This moral emphasizes the ethical principle that spreading unverified information or speaking ill of others can cause unjustified damage, reflecting broader Hindu and Buddhist values like Right Speech—which advocates for truthful, kind, and purposeful communication—and the karmic consequences of one’s words and actions.
The story serves as a reminder to ask oneself if what one is about to say is true, kind, and necessary. It underscores the need for wisdom, restraint, and fairness before forming opinions or sharing information. The old woman's words carried a "different kind of poison" that stained the king's name, intent, and honor.
The tale was passed down through storytelling, shaping the values of a little girl who grew up listening to stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Srimad Bhagavatam, and other sources. The story taught her empathy, compassion, perseverance, love, forgiveness, and leadership. Patti, the girl's grandmother, shed tears of joy and sorrow while reading these stories, often repeating them beautifully.
The story emphasizes the power of silence, suggesting that not everything deserves to be repeated and not every silence needs to be filled. It is a reminder that our words have the power to heal or harm, and it is crucial to use them wisely.
[1] Right Speech: A fundamental Buddhist principle emphasizing truthful, kind, and purposeful communication. [2] Karma: In Hinduism, the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.
