As a typical Indian story begins, once upon a time there was a poor Brahmin named Kaushika. He learnt all the Vedas and decided to do Tapas to further sharpen his Yogic prowess and gain knowledge and Siddhis. His vigorous Tapas continued uninterrupted for years. The glow of the penance started showing on his face and his very aura started becoming radiant.

One day, while he was meditating under a tree, his concentration was disturbed when a sparrow started making noise while trying to build a nest on the tree. Kaushika glanced at the sparrow angrily and the poor sparrow burned to ashes that very instant.

Pleased by his progress, he went to a town nearby to ask for Bhiksha. At a particular house, the lady of the house took a long time to answer his call and finally gave him alms. This angered Kaushika who threatened to curse the lady and burn her down with his Yogic Powers. But to his surprise, the lady replied that she was neither a crow nor a sparrow, to be burnt.

Kaushika was amazed to see that an average housewife had such sophisticated Yogic powers without having undergone stringent austerities. The lady replied that by doing one’s duty, one can achieve all that is to be achieved. She redirected Kaushika to a butcher named Dharma Vyadha living in the city of Mithila who, according to lady, would impart knowledge to this learned Brahmin.

So Kaushika decided to check out this butcher.He reached Mithila, tracked down the meat-shop of the said butcher and was horrified at the sight of blood and meat and death around. He gives up the expectation of gaining any knowledge, but now that he had come this far, he decides to at leasttalk with this butcher. The butcher, however, knows the intent of this Brahmin and requests him to wait until his shop is closed, so that he can instruct the Brahmin about the intricacies of Dharma as told by the housewife in another city. Kaushika gets the second surprise of his life and his arrogance is thoroughly grounded and replaced by genuine curiosity, befitting an ideal student.

Dharma Vyaadha starts his instruction, ‘Oh tapasvi, I will instruct you on the nature of Dharma and Ahimsa by my own example. I am in this business because my family has been in this business for generations. It is my Kula Vritti. Upon careful thinking, I found out that this business suits me well. I devote all my time to ensure that my customers are satisfied with my service. Furthermore, it allows me to take care of my aged parents as well as my family.It also ensures that I have the ability to live a decent life in this good city. Do not judge an act as good or bad. No act is of higher or lower stature. It is higher or lower based on the driving force behind that act. Right action is achieved by the means of coordinated efforts in two directions: controlling the six enemies (Kaama/Krodha/Lobha/Moha/Mada/Matsara) and strengthening the Dharmic intent of the mind. Any action under influence of these six enemies is bad action.

Ahimsaa (nonviolence) and Satya (truth) are the two main pillars of Dharma. A decision on what is truth, under difficult circumstances, should be made by choosing that course of action which would lead to highest good of all that is (Bhuta). And Ahimsa is when a person wishes and acts for the benefit of all keeping the true understanding of Justice (Nyaya) and virtues (GuNa).’

Knowledge and bliss dawns upon Kaushika who thanks the butcher and bids him farewell. Dharma Vyaadha gives him final lesson, ‘Oh learned Brahmana! In your quest for mastering Vedas and acquiring Yogic Siddhis, you have neglected your duties towards your parents, your family and have become an ascetic. You learned from me, but you also have to learn from the housewife who sent you here. Dharma and knowledge can be achieved perfectly by staying in the society and fulfilling all the duties and earning all the Purusharthas. You have to pay back the dues to parents, to society before you attain liberation (Mukti). Quit Sannyasa, go back home, take care of your parents, start a family. You have my blessing, knowledge will shine upon you.’

It is both interesting and humbling to note that one of the finest lessons on non-violence given to a Brahmin by a butcher whose occupation is to kill animals. There is an elaborate story where the butcher tells Kaushika about his past life and how Shudras and Brahmins are defined. They arrive at the conclusion that good conduct alone determines who is Brahmin and who is not. And good or bad are themselves determined by the driving force behind every action in a given situation. Possession of qualities like purity, discipline and adherence to truth alone makes one a Brahmin, irrespective of the caste a person is born into.