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60. RUKMINI
Turning to Vasudeva, Dhananjaya
laughed.
"Oh, ruler of Bhojakata," said Arjuna, "we
are not afraid of the size of the enemy
forces. We have no need of your help and
do not particularly desire it. You may
either go away or stay on, just as you
like."
At this, Rukma was filled with anger and
shame and went to Duryodhana's camp
with his army. "The Pandavas have
refused my proffered assistance." Said he
to Duryodhana. "My forces are at your
disposal."
"Is it not after the Pandavas rejected your
assistance that you have come here?"
exclaimed Duryodhana, and added: "I am
not in such dire need yet as to welcome
their leavings."
Rukma, thus put to disgrace by both sides,
returned to his kingdom without taking
part in battle. Neutrality in war may be of
several kinds.
It may arise from conscientious objection
to war or it may be due to mere conceit
and self-interest. Yet others may keep
aloof through cowardice or sheer inertia.
Balarama was neutral in the Mahabharata
war because of his love of peace. Rukma,
on the other hand, abstained as a result of
his conceit.
Instead of acting according to dharma, he
thought of personal glory, and neither side
would have him.
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