UP 2: Krodha-vega - The urge of anger; Anger, the destroyer of all world

Thakur Mahashaya, discussing the evils of anger in his Prema-bhakti-chandrika, says: krodha vA nA kare kibA, krodha tyAga sadA dibA - "What can anger not accomplish? Always give up anger!" On the evils anger will accomplish, Dharmaraja Yudhisthira speaks in the Vana-parva of Mahabharata:

krodha mUlo vinAzo hi prajAnAm iha dRzyate |
kruddhaH pApaM naraH kuryAt kruddho hanyAt gurUn api ||
kruddhaH paruSayA vAcA zreyaso'pyavamAnyate |
vAcyAvAcye hi kupito na prajAnAti karhicit |
nAkAryam asti kruddhasya nAvAcyaM vidyate tathA ||
kruddho hi kAryaM suzroNi na yathAvat prapazyati |
nA kAryaM na ca maryAdAM naraH kruddho'nupazyati ||

"Anger is seen at the root of all human destruction. Due to anger, people commit sins, due to anger they may even slay their gurus. When an angry person speaks beneficial words, they'll be disregarded still. The incensed man never knows not what is to be said and what to be left unsaid. There is no forbidden deed the angry will not do, nor is there anything he cannot say. O Draupadi! The deeds accomplished by anger are unforeseen and unpredictable. The angry man does not know what is to be done, nor does he act according to proper etiquette."

Anger has a great captivating power over the mind. Anger drags the mind down to a hellish state. The sequence of the growth of anger is described as follows:

dhyAyato viSayAn puMsaH saGgas teSUpajAyate |
saGgAt saJjAyate kAmaH kAmAt krodho ’bhijAyate ||
krodhAd bhavati sammohaH sammohAt smRti-vibhramaH |
smRti-bhraMzAd buddhi-nAzo buddhi-nAzAt praNazyati || bg 2.62-63

"As one contemplates on sense-objects, association arises. From association, desires come about, and due to desires anger awakens.
"From anger comes madness, from madness the bewilderment of memory, from the bewilderment of memory the destruction of intelligence. With the destruction of intelligence, one perishes."

Anger is overcome with wisdom and humility. The desired wisdom is discussed in the Bhagavata:

tat te ’nukampAM su-samIkSamANo
bhuJjAna evAtma-kRtaM vipAkam |
hRd-vAg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te
jIveta yo mukti-pade sa dAya-bhAk || bhp 10.14.8

"Always longing for Your compassion,
Enduring all as the fruits of one's own deeds,
Offering respects to You with heart, words and body,
The feet of Mukunda become one's due inheritance."

Always regard evils that befall upon us as the fruits of our own misdeeds. Do not fault others for carrying the fruits of your ill acts. Rather, within your heart, call for their forgiveness for having to carry out the fruits of your karma. Always find a lesson in the tribulations you meet, face them with gratitude.

Now, Thakur Mahashaya has also said, krodha bhakta-dveSi-jane -- "Be angry to those hateful of devotees." Yet, this krodha is not to be brought out as an outburst of rage. Within there is fire, without there are only good wishes for another. Whichever medium the inner fire assumes, it is done with the sole purpose of rectifying the offender.

The 11th canto of the Bhagavata mentions that the medium-grade devotee neglects (upekSa) the envious (dveSi). Why? Because he may not have the power it takes to rectify the offender, and may only cause the offender to make further offence, thereby plunging himself ever so deeper into the net of madness he is already enrapt in.

Is there more to it where the quote from Mahabharata came from?

The Shanti-parva of Mahabharata contains lengthy discussions on anger and its evils. The following words of wisdom from Bhishma struck me:

"Assailed with harsh speeches, one should not assail in return. Indeed, one who, under such circumstances, renounces wrath, succeeds in burning the assailant and taking away all his merits. That person who when assailed with harsh speeches does not utter a harsh word in reply, who when praised does not utter what is agreeable to him that praises, who is endued with such fortitude as not to strike in return when struck and not to even wish evil to the striker, finds his companionship always coveted by the gods. He that is sinful should be forgiven as if he were righteous, by one that is insulted, struck, and calumniated. By acting in this way one attains to success." (MBh. 12.300)

Suggested questions:

- Why is anger harmful for devotion?
- What are the different ways of controlling anger, and moreover, of getting rid of it for good?
- What should one do if has given room for this urge to manifest, and notices the same?
- Why do madness and the rest follow anger, as in Gita 2.62-63?