NARATED BY MADHU
A cobra’s encounter with an axe offers a profound lesson in controlling anger. After accidentally getting slightly injured by the axe, the cobra lashed out in fury. Its bite, aimed at harming the axe, achieved nothing except injuring itself further. Fueled by arrogance, the snake coiled tightly around the axe in a fatal attempt to “defeat” it. By morning, the carpenter returned to find the cobra lifeless, wrapped around the axe that had caused its demise.
This story reflects a powerful truth about anger. When we act out of wrath, we often hurt ourselves more than others. Just like the cobra, we may waste energy on fruitless retaliation, causing our own suffering in the process. Anger blinds us, leading to self-destruction rather than resolution.
Spiritual Lesson
Anger is a poison that corrodes the mind and heart. The Bhagavad Gita (2.63) warns: “From anger, delusion arises, and from delusion, bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost, one falls down into degradation.” To live peacefully, we must learn to let go of trivial provocations and focus on our spiritual growth. Silence, forgiveness, and prayer are far more powerful responses than anger, enabling us to maintain inner balance and clarity.
