Hello,From what I understand a kshatriya can not kill someone who has surrendered to them and asked for mercy no matter how bad their crime. Some examples are when King Paraksit was about to strike down Kali in disguise when he was torturing a cow and when Arjuna rode down and caught the man who had killed five members of his family in their sleep by slitting their throats. In the latter Lord Krsna told Arjuna to show mercy when he was ready to kill the man. I am having difficulty understanding this. It seems as though someone can hurt as many people as they want and then just surrender and ask for mercy and they are completely off the hook. I know Lord Krsna has showed me far more mercy than I deserve in my life and I am grateful but I am speaking strictly from a perspective of making sure that the atrocities are put to an end. Any and all advice is much appreciated.Hare Krsna
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Surrendering by a sinful person is also difficult. Like you mentioned, if someone is aware of this Kshatriya dictum and does atrocities and then surrenders, and the Kshatriya is forced to forgive, such a person is sure to commit another crime. Then the forgiveness neednt continue. The same Kshatriya who forgave will then kill him.
The idea is that to punish is not in our hands - that anyways mayadevi and yamraj will do - nobody can escape the laws of nature. We do not have to assume those roles, let it be done by the designated.
Like you mentioned prabhuji, to show mercy is far greater than to punish. We all are in need to showers of mercy. We have got also more than we deserve, we should learn to count our blessings, thats all.
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Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
Surrendering by a sinful person is also difficult. Like you mentioned, if someone is aware of this Kshatriya dictum and does atrocities and then surrenders, and the Kshatriya is forced to forgive, such a person is sure to commit another crime. Then the forgiveness neednt continue. The same Kshatriya who forgave will then kill him.
The idea is that to punish is not in our hands - that anyways mayadevi and yamraj will do - nobody can escape the laws of nature. We do not have to assume those roles, let it be done by the designated.
Like you mentioned prabhuji, to show mercy is far greater than to punish. We all are in need to showers of mercy. We have got also more than we deserve, we should learn to count our blessings, thats all.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD