Sacred Concord

Mbh 12.178.3

Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

"'Bhishma continued, "Hope is very powerful (in agitating the heart), O King! Freedom from hope is high felicity. Reducing hope to an absence of expectation, Pingala sleeps in peace.[534] Beholding an osprey with meat in his beaks, others, that have not found any meat, assail and destroy him. A certain osprey, by altogether abstaining from meat obtained felicity. To build a house for one's own self is productive of sorrow and not of happiness. The snake, taking up his residence in another creature's abode, lives in felicity. The ascetics live happily, betaking themselves to mendicancy, without being injured by any creature, like bees in the forest. A certain maker of shafts, while employed at his work, was so deeply attentive to it that he did not notice the king who passed by his side. When many are together, dispute ensues. Even when two reside together, they are sure to converse. I, however, wander alone like the anklet made of sea-shells in the wrist of the maiden in the story."'"[535]
Mbh 12.178.3 · Mahabharata · SANTI PARVA

Themes in this passage

HopeLeadershipGriefLonelinessNaturePeaceStrengthWork

Hope in other traditions

The same theme, as Christianity, Islam and Hellenism address it.

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Romans 8:24 · Bible · Romans
Say: Can ye await for us aught save one of two good things (death or victory in Allah's way)? while we await for you that Allah will afflict you with a doom from Him or at our hands. Await then! Lo! We are awaiting with you.
Quran 9:52 · Quran · Repentance
Fired by his words, the troops dismiss their fears, They join, they thicken, they protend their spears; Full on the Greeks they drive in firm array, And each from Ajax hopes the glorious prey: Vain hope! what numbers shall the field o’erspread, What victims perish round the mighty dead!
Iliad 17.24 · Iliad · 17
Another said, “I hope he may be no more successful in other things than he is likely to be in stringing this bow.”
Odyssey 21.39 · Odyssey · 21

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