What is the dharma of your work?
Do you find it important to inquire the dharma of your occupation?
Once upon a time, several robbers got together in a conference as they were worried about their future.
They realized that they didn't have the right leader to guide their actions. They approached Kavavya, the son of a Kshatriya by a Nishada female, who had retired from robbery but was respected greatly.
They explained to him what their problems were and said to him: 'Be our Leader'.
After deep reflection, Kavavya spoke thus: 'Very well, I will be your leader, but on certain conditions. You shall not, in the course of robbing others, ever kill a woman, or a person shaking with fear, or a child, or an ascetic'.
'Never take a woman by force. None of you shall ever kill one of the womankind: nor rob anyone devoted to knowledge and learning, rather take care of them. Never destroy a standing crop, nor disrupt a wedding, nor ever create trouble where the ancestors and the guests are being honoured. Those who harass good people, are to be destroyed as their punishment. And remember always, that even a robber has his dharma, his limits'.
On hearing this, they said to him in one voice: 'To that, we give you our pledge'.
What Kavavvya was saying to them was something very simple, but profound: "If a robber you must be, be a caring robber'.
The story goes on further that the robbers began to do well, but soon came to the conclusion that there are in life other ways of earning a livelihood far more worthwhile than robbing others.
Mahabharata says that whoever narrates this story of caring robbers discovers freedom from fear of robbers.
What is the dharma of the profession you do? Have you discovered it? Or felt the importance of discovering it?