"Oh Sumati ! , the relative who is of no use, 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 a 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 to their advantage . While it is certainly a very apt saying , it does not automatically imply that it is one's duty to help all relatives or it is the duty of the God to oblige one and all.

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 that there is in reality there is only one ! . We also know that our puranas are full of stories where obliging Gods like Lord Siva were often pursued for more by aggressive seekers seeking to be obliged. Such seekers needed to be later checkmated by Lord Vishnu who came to the rescue of Lord Siva's obliging ways !.. So not all wish lists may be right too !!

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 duty!

Om Tat Sat