My paternal grandmother, who is alive today, once told me the story of how she witnessed her granddad calling the "disobedient rats" and having a "fit" at them. I asked her what transpired for his rage; and she told me that apparently the rats had got to his "granary" and "eaten" up a great deal of paddy, even though they were being fed by his household. I looked stupefied at my grandma and said, "What on earth are you talking about—they fed rats?" She simply said, "Yes, when you share what you have, there is a universal code of conduct that is established without effort: whosoever breaks the code should and will be punished .... "

I gaped. That was so true. I told her: "Grandma, so the rats broke the code —by being greedy—they were partakers in the produce of grandpa's lands and yet they still stole from him?"

"That's right, and Grandpa was a strict adherent of Dharma. He demanded fair and equal status from everyone he gave it to. So, when it was brought to his notice that the rats had eaten from the granary, he was furious."

I was spellbound with curiosity by this time as any child would be. Here I was in the land of magicians and spirits where men talked to rats......."What happened ... did he kill the rats? " I whispered, my eyes wide open and my heart trembling with both fear and sadness for the poor rats.

"My child," said my grandma, "What did I tell you, just a moment ago? Your valya appopan (great grandfather) was a man of Dharma. Now, do you think to commit Himsa for the sake of a few handfuls of paddy is part of Dharma?" My heart felt instantly better. I was even a trifle excited to know what happened thereafter.

"Well a man of Dharma can ever commit any Himsa," said my grandma in a sagely voice. "What," said I in a loud voice this time. Dharma and Himsa together?" I was impatient and almost angry. I was already defending the poor underdog—the poor rats were just like Victor Hugo's Jean Valjean who just stole a loaf of bread because he was hungry.

"Let me finish my story -- if you don't calm down I will not tell you anymore" my grandmother was angry now. I was subdued. Please tell me is it not that a man of Dharma should always practice Ahimsa?"

"Quite right" said my grandmother. "However the only time a man of Dharma can , and remember he still acquires the "karma " for his acts -- there is no escaping Karma - the only time he can do any Ahimsa is when he is defending "Dharma" --- it is Adharmic in every other instance to commit any sort of Himsa".

I stared into her eyes -- my heart beginning to beat a little faster now. " So grandpa had to defend Dharma....and he had to...." I choked.

My eyes were welling up with tears ... this was not something I was prepared for. My "valya appopa" this gem of Dharma was going to Kill My Rats --my poor rats who were perhaps just being like me... I did a lot of things that my parents told me not to do In fact I tried to do exactly what they told me Not to do. Did this mean that come someday -- I may perhaps have to be killed too? I was beginnings to be afraid now. What on earth is happening to the world?Where is all the Dharma ? What is happening to good people like my father and mother? My God - is this beautiful earth going to perish once and for all?

A thousand and one questions jumped in my little mind... and suddenly I burst into tears. I wept and wept.

My grandmother held me close to her and she whispered : " Yes your grandfather had to defend Dharma - his Dharma. He could not commit murder. The rats had not eaten up ALL the rice so that the rest of the family would Starve to death. They ate a little. They broke the law of co existence - but they did not destroy the very Existence. Likewise - They had to be punished but not destroyed."

" Your valya appoopa - picked u up two sticks, drew a little circle on the ground using each stick to draw one half - crossed the sticks... held it up to his forehead for a moment - then brought them down in a X exactly at the center of the circle and tapped them lightly on the ground ...''

I was mesmerized and waited with bated breath for the next words of my grandma.

"In a few moments there was a little patter of feet -- and they came in single file. One after the other, ten of the mischievous rats... holding in their tiny paws... what was left of the ears of paddy they had stolen. They laid it down at his feet and stood inside the circle.... regretful and ashamed. " " Valya appoopa took each ear of paddy and beat them on their backs with it 5 times each and told them in a stern voice - This being the first time you broke the law - your punishment is light. You did what you did out of ignorance. I can understand that. If you repeat this again - it becomes stupidity. The punishment for stupidity is banishment. Being banished if you ever come back to my household and repeat what you did, then it is arrogance - the punishment for arrogance is defense. If when we defend ourselves you still attack - then it is Egoistic Pride and Intolerance - what you do will be Adharmic and you will be on the path of committing Himsa against us. I CANNOT and WILL NOT tolerate that. I will step out of my realm of Ahimsa - and will DESTROY you all. Do you understand what I say?"

I could only stare with stupefaction and wait for my grandma to catch her breath. I was so afraid she would be too tired after this powerful rendition - that she would leave the rest of the story for another day.

My grandma took a deep breath and continued :" The head rat of the gang, looked up at 'valya appoopa' silently for a moment. Then took the ear of paddy and put it on his little head , all the others followed suit. They walked with their little feet to the granary one after the other in single file while the whole family watched.. and one by one they laid down the ears of rice in the granary and left." "We never had as long as I remember another incident of the rats eating from the granary".....

I was crying again. This time great big drops of tears rolled down my cheeks ... but I was smiling too. Some of those tears got through my open lips into my mouth and I felt the salt on my tongue. That was my first taste of "tears of Joy."