This is a story I came across that offers both humor and wisdom. It narrates a conversation between Lord Yama and Chitragupta, the celestial accountant, about a peculiar moral dilemma.
Chitragupta: Lord, we have a unique situation, and I need your guidance. Whose account should we assign a particular sin to?
Yama: Tell me the situation, Mr. Chitragupta!
Chitragupta: In a village, there was a king who passionately conducted Anna Dhanam (mass food donation) for hundreds of people. One unfortunate day, ten people died due to food poisoning. Now the question arises—should the sin fall upon the king, the cook, or the people who consumed the food?
Yama: Do we have a video recording of the events? Let’s review the evidence!
Chitragupta: (Retrieving a celestial video recording) Here is the sequence of events: An eagle captured a snake and was flying over the area where the food was being prepared and served. While struggling, the snake released a few drops of poison. These droplets fell into the cooking vessels.
Now, Lord, should the sin be assigned to the eagle for capturing the snake? Or should it go to the snake for spilling poison?
Yama: Hmm. According to the eagle’s dharma, it hunts to survive—it did nothing wrong. Similarly, the snake acted instinctively to protect itself. It does not bear responsibility either.
Neither the king nor the cook can be held accountable, as they were unaware of the events.
(A sudden realization strikes Yama.)
Yama: Wait! Chitragupta, what are those two men talking about in the video? Zoom in and apply noise filters.
Chitragupta: (Enhancing the audio) Two men, Mr. Kuda and Mr. Jada, are having a conversation.
- Meow Kuda: What happened at the Anna Dhanam event?
- Meow Jada: I heard the cook mixed poison in the food, and ten people died!
- Meow Kuda: How do you know that?
- Meow Jada: Oh, everyone’s gossiping about whether it was the king or the cook. Besides, my idly tasted off this morning, so it must be the cook’s fault!
Yama: (Decisively) Chitragupta, assign all the sin to Meow Jada for spreading false information!
The Takeaway
This amusing story holds a profound message: the real culprit was not the eagle, the snake, the king, or the cook—it was misinformation.
In our lives, many of us unknowingly spread unverified information, especially in the digital age. Forwarding unverified WhatsApp messages or gossiping without evidence can cause real harm.
The lesson is clear: if you cannot verify the truth, pause. Avoid spreading the message altogether. Instead, strive to share positivity and truth.
Let’s be wise and responsible with the information we share. Together, we can build a world of trust and positivity!
