Correct is Right: Staying True to Yourself.

 Correct is Right: Staying True to Yourself.

In life, challenges often test our patience, values, and beliefs. The world may urge us to bend, to forsake our principles for survival or approval. Yet, Hindu scriptures reveal that true power lies in holding fast to our essence, unshaken by external forces. This truth is encapsulated in the ancient saying, "Protect Dharma and it will protect you," rooted in the Manusmriti (8.15): Dharmah raksati raksitah, meaning "Dharma protects those who protect it." Similarly, in Trinidad, we say, "Correct is right." No matter how much pressure we face, the truth remains the truth, and righteousness is always the right path.

Two timeless tales—the Sage and the Scorpion and the legend of Prahlad from the Bhagavat Puran—illuminate this principle with striking clarity.

The Sage and the Scorpion: Compassion Beyond Pain.

One serene morning, a wise sage meditated by a river’s edge. As he opened his eyes, he glimpsed a scorpion thrashing in the current, its tiny legs clawing at the water. Moved by compassion, he plunged his hand into the icy flow to rescue it. The moment he lifted the creature, a sharp sting pierced his skin. He winced but gently set it on the shore.

Moments later, the scorpion slipped back into the river. Again, the sage reached in, the cold biting his fingers, and again, the scorpion stung him. A passerby, witnessing this quiet struggle, called out, “Why persist in saving it when it repays you with pain?”

The sage smiled, his voice steady. “It is the scorpion’s nature to sting. It is mine to save. Just as it remains true to itself, why should I abandon who I am?”

This story reveals more than kindness—it’s a testament to inner peace. The sage didn’t act out of naivety but from a refusal to let external harm dictate his spirit. His resilience reflects the Manusmriti’s wisdom: by safeguarding his dharma of compassion, he found strength within. We, too, are called to preserve our core, even when the world stings.

Prahlad and Lord Narasimha: Unwavering Faith in the Face of Adversity.

A parallel lesson unfolds in the story of Prahlad, a young prince whose devotion to Lord Vishnu defied his father, the tyrannical Asura king Hiranyakashipu. This tale, detailed in the Bhagavat Puran (Book 7, Chapters 5–10), showcases dharma’s protective power. Blessed with a boon that made him nearly invincible, Hiranyakashipu demanded worship from all, banning reverence for Vishnu. Yet Prahlad, his own son, remained a steadfast bhakta (devotee).

Enraged, the king unleashed a torrent of cruelty to break his son’s faith:

• He hurled Prahlad from a jagged cliff (Bhagavat Puran 7.5.43–44).
• He ordered an elephant to crush him (Bhagavat Puran 7.8.2–3).
• He cast him into the churning ocean (Bhagavat Puran 7.5.45).
• He poisoned his meals (Bhagavat Puran 7.5.46).
• He bound him in flames alongside his aunt, Holika (Bhagavat Puran 7.5.37–40).

Each time, Vishnu intervened—winds softened Prahlad’s fall, the elephant knelt in reverence, the waves cradled him to shore. Through it all, Prahlad stood unshaken, his lips whispering prayers, his young face calm amid the chaos. When Hiranyakashipu mocked, “Is your Vishnu in this pillar?” Prahlad replied, “He is everywhere, even within you” (Bhagavat Puran 7.8.12). Furious, the king struck the pillar. In that instant, Lord Narasimha—Vishnu’s fierce half-man, half-lion form—burst forth, ending the tyrant’s reign (Bhagavat Puran 7.8.17–29). Yet even after his father’s fall, Prahlad remained unchanged: humble, righteous, compassionate. He ruled with dharma, never swayed by vengeance or pride (Bhagavat Puran 7.10.1–4).

Prahlad’s strength wasn’t mere stubbornness—it was faith fused with resilience, a conviction that truth endures beyond suffering. His story embodies Dharmah raksati raksita: by protecting his devotion, dharma shielded him in return.

The Shared Wisdom: Hold Fast to Your Essence.

These tales—the sage’s quiet resolve and Prahlad’s fearless devotion—weave a common thread:

• External actions need not reshape us. The sage met stings with kindness; Prahlad faced persecution with faith.
• True power is inner conviction. Their strength wasn’t in changing others but in embodying their values.
• Righteousness finds its way. As Vishnu guarded Prahlad, dharma prevails over time, echoing the Manusmriti’s promise.

Of course, this doesn’t mean clinging to flaws under the guise of “nature.” The sage’s compassion and Prahlad’s devotion were rooted in righteousness, not ego. Staying true to ourselves requires discernment—knowing which parts of us align with truth.

Living the Lesson.

We all face scorpions of hostility and tyrants of doubt—moments that tempt us to abandon kindness, faith, or integrity. But these stories, backed by the Manusmriti’s Dharmah raksati raksitah ask: Why let negativity rewrite who we are? The sage didn’t flinch at pain; Prahlad didn’t bow to fear. Their examples call us to stand firm in our truth.

Next time anger flares or doubt creeps in, pause. What defines you—compassion, honesty, courage? How will you protect it? Embody the sage’s steady heart and Prahlad’s unshakable spirit. Protect dharma, and it will protect you—for in righteousness, the universe itself becomes your ally.