Do Not Judge

This parable told by Swami in Chinna Katha narrates an incident that happened when Sri Rama was engaged in a fierce battle against demon Ravana at Lanka.

One day, when the battle for the day was  about to halt, a chance arrow wounded a child on the hip of an ogress. The mother dropped the child and fled. Lakshmana, observing this, said to Rama: “See brother! How hard-hearted these ogresses are! They do not even have love for their own children.” Rama calmly replied: “Brother, do not condemn people hastily and harshly. That ogress may have some reason for running away thus. Go to her and ask her about this yourself.”

Lakshmana saluted the ogress and questioned her about her unworthy gesture. She replied: “We are indeed ogresses, but not all of us are that wicked. What about Vibhishana, does he not love Rama? Is he not good? Don’t you think there are ogres among you men too? Do not criticize and condemn others hastily. I shall tell you why I dropped my son who was fatally wounded. When it is a question of attaining salvation, each is a unit. Be it mother, child, husband, or wife, each will go along a different path and reach the goal according to his actions sooner or later. I must seek my salvation. When I knew that my son would certainly die, why should I bother about him by tarrying there on the battlefield? I might be hit by an arrow. I do not want to die. I want to keep myself alive so that I may be taken captive by Sri Rama to Ayodhya. I may be thus blessed by the darshan [sight of a holy person] of the Lord, which would save me from the cycle of birth and death.”

Lakshmana prostrated before the ogress and took leave of her. He narrated to Rama the entire episode. Sri Rama said: “Brother! Remember that there will be some good even in things which outwardly appear evil. An action is good or bad according to the motive behind it. Hasty judgment is always dangerous.”

Source: Chinna Katha II, p. 54