Source: In the Presence of the Divine
Narratives of Experiences with Maha Periyaval - Volume 1
Translated by: Sujatha Vijayaraghavan
Enmity developed between two close relatives in a village on account of claims over property. The bitterness led to a case in the court. There was not the barest exchange of a civil word between the two. The defendant's son was to be married. He brought the invitation and placed it before Periyaval.
Periyaval looked at the attendant nearby and said, "Ask him if he will visit all his relatives and invite them?"
"Yes...we will visit all the relatives to invite them..."
After a minute's pause, Periyaval said, "Ask him if he will visit the plaintiff also".
The gentleman hesitated for a while. "I thought that if I went there and was insulted, it would be very hurting".
"No such thing will happen. Give him the invitation in person and tell him that he must attend the wedding".
The defendant went to the complainant's house in trepidation. he recalled Periyaval's words. "It is not in our culture to disrespect visitors. Everyone is essentially good'.
The complainant never dreamt that his sworn enemy would visit him in his house. When he saw the defendant, he hugged him to his bosom.
"Welcome, welcome", he said happily and accepted the invitation. "You forgot our enmity and came home to invite me! I shall certainly come to participate in the celebrations", he assured his relative.
The gentleman who had gone to give the invitation had a sudden change of heart. "Such a good man', he thought. "Why did I develop such enmity for him?"
"Brother", he said, "Let us forget about the case and the courts. Let us settle the matter amicably".
The two gentleman raised their hands in salutation in Periyaval's direction.
Narratives of Experiences with Maha Periyaval - Volume 1
Translated by: Sujatha Vijayaraghavan
Enmity developed between two close relatives in a village on account of claims over property. The bitterness led to a case in the court. There was not the barest exchange of a civil word between the two. The defendant's son was to be married. He brought the invitation and placed it before Periyaval.
Periyaval looked at the attendant nearby and said, "Ask him if he will visit all his relatives and invite them?"
"Yes...we will visit all the relatives to invite them..."
After a minute's pause, Periyaval said, "Ask him if he will visit the plaintiff also".
The gentleman hesitated for a while. "I thought that if I went there and was insulted, it would be very hurting".
"No such thing will happen. Give him the invitation in person and tell him that he must attend the wedding".
The defendant went to the complainant's house in trepidation. he recalled Periyaval's words. "It is not in our culture to disrespect visitors. Everyone is essentially good'.
The complainant never dreamt that his sworn enemy would visit him in his house. When he saw the defendant, he hugged him to his bosom.
"Welcome, welcome", he said happily and accepted the invitation. "You forgot our enmity and came home to invite me! I shall certainly come to participate in the celebrations", he assured his relative.
The gentleman who had gone to give the invitation had a sudden change of heart. "Such a good man', he thought. "Why did I develop such enmity for him?"
"Brother", he said, "Let us forget about the case and the courts. Let us settle the matter amicably".
The two gentleman raised their hands in salutation in Periyaval's direction.
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