అక్కఱకురాని చుట్టము
మ్రొక్కిన వరమీయని వేల్పు
మొహరమున దానెక్కిన బారని గుర్రము
గ్రక్కున విడువంగ వలయు గదరా సుమతీ||

akkarakurāni cuttamu
mrokkina varamīyani vēlpu
moharamuna dānekkina bārani gurramu
grakkuna viduvanga valayu gadarā sumatī||

"Oh Sumati ! , the relative who does not come for your aid , the God who does not oblige, and the horse which does not obey your command must be left immediately!"

It is couplet that came in handy other day as a last word in a discussion and I closed the discussion with triumphant smile!

But that also left me wondering.

True, this is an oft repeated couplet.

Most Telugu speaking people would have learnt this in the primary school. Most would have used the couplet some time or other in some conversation.

While it certainly sounds like a very apt advice, it cannot be axiomatically inferred that at all times it is one's duty to help all relatives or it is the duty of the God to oblige one and all who makes the request !!

One's duty (dharma) comes far ahead of any considerations of helping a relative. All Vedas reinforce the same.

The couplet only makes a case from the “relatives” point of view that “that relative” must be left who does not oblige. As for leaving the God who does not oblige at one level it does not square with the thought there is in reality only one ! At another level , in any case our puranas are full of stories where obliging Gods like Lord Siva were often pursued more , only to be later checkmated by Lord Vishnu who comes to the rescue of Lord Siva of obliging ways !

So if a God is not obliging one may need to review the “wish list” rather than change the God!

And if a relative is not obliging , do not hold it against him for he is bound by his dharma or duty!

Om Tat Sat