Story of Koshikatha

This story told by Lord Krishnna to Arjuna is about truth and dharma. We know that Arjuna, like many other characters in the Puranaas and Ithihaasaas, takes vows on sudden impulse without thinking about the consequences. This story is about one of those vows Arjuna took.

If any one asked Arjuna to keep his bow Gaandeevam down, he would kill that person. During the Mahabhaaratha war, when Arjuna could not kill Karna, Yudhishtira was angry and frustrated. In that anger he told Arjuna that he should be ashamed and should give the Gaandeevam to some body more qualified in using that. Arjuna was furious and charged at Yudhishtira to kill him and make his vow true. Krishna stopped him and told this story of Koshikatha.

Koshikatha was a saint who lived in a hermitage near a forest. He had taken a vow that he would only speak the truth. One day some robbers attacked a group of people travelling through the nearby village. These innocent people ran with the robbers following them a little far behind. They entered the forest through the small opening near the hermitage and disappeared. Robbers came behind and asked the saint which path the people in front of them took. Koshikatha told the truth that they entered  through the opening near the
hermitage. Robbers followed the innocent people, robbed everything and killed them. For this sin of informing the robbers about the path the innocent people took, Koshikatha was severely punished in hell.

After narrating the story, Lord Krishna said: "one should know when
sathya becomes adharma and one should have the sense of discrimination. Now I told you this story and decision is yours. Think about your vow and decide whether you want to kill your brother. "

Arjuna did not kill Yudhishtira, instead yelled bad words at him which is "thejovadham" and equivalent to killing and as atonement, praised himself like a fool which is "aatmaprashamsa" and equvalent to killing oneself. Krishna always uses the same strategy. He never orders anybody. In Bhagavad Gita also he explained everything and told Arjuna to take his own decision about war. He always wants us to use our free will and power of discrimination.

Addendum:

Both Paraninda or disrespecting others and Aatmaprshamsa or boasting oneself are big sins. Now what do we hear in the election campaigns and other competitive situations? Gives food for thought.