Rights

Soldiers were walking in front of a king's chariot and were removing people from the way so that the king's chariot could easily pass. Many ordinary people were also coming and going on the same path. When the soldiers remove the people for the protection of the king, they lose their dignity and start pushing the people, similarly the soldiers of that king were doing the same. In this way the road was being cleared. 

That king was Sita's father, Janak. That place was Janakpur. The king was very learned. At the time when people were being pushed away, a monk whose body was slightly crooked, known as Ashtavakra, was also walking on the same path.  The soldiers also tried to push Ashtavakra out of the way. Ashtavakra said, 'We will not move from here.' 

The soldiers said, 'Why won't you move? The king is coming from the front.' Ashtavakra said, 'Why are the common people being stopped for the ride of a king?' 

This work is not good for the king. This is not even fair. I am stopping you from doing this work because it is the duty of a sage that if there is any defect in the state system, it should be removed. I am saying this because it is not right. Give this message to the king sitting on this chariot.  

On hearing this, the soldiers took Ashtavakra captive. He took them to King Janak. When the whole incident was narrated to King Janak, he said, 'First of all, free them. You all apologize to him and I also apologize to him. This foolish thing has been done by the polity, because of one of our systems, common citizens have suffered.  Salute them because they have given an opportunity to improve the system. I request you to become our Rajguru.  

Lesson - If we have rights then we should not misuse our rights. It is the responsibility of the government, administration, leaders, ministers and officials that the common people should not face any kind of problem. The system should be such that everyone gets benefit.

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