Right and Wrong

What is right and what is wrong? And what comes in the grey? Doesn't too much come in the grey region?? These questions confuse the mind time and again.. while reading a book or seeing a television serial or a movie or any other such portrayal of life: where life's events and decisions are shown..

There are so many situations in these portrayals, when you wonder what you would do in the same place and you do not get a clear answer.. And makes you fear that if you can't decide even when not faced with the situation, what would you do when faced with it in real life?

These questions came up again while watching the grand epics of epics, Mahabharat. What a story it is, with layers after layers of characterisations.. a multitude of characters all interlinked together in a complex maze.. decisions taken by people leading to unexpected consequences generations later.. Such an interesting study on karma and characters it is.

What would you say about Bheeshma, a person revered for his loyalty and courage. But what about his intelligence and decision-taking abilities? Of taking vows without thinking, in the heat of the moment and then living their after-effects forever through his life (and not always happy). Of kidnapping women in the name of doing it for the crown. And then throughout his life, of having to do the 'wrong' for the sake of the crown.

And what would you say about Satyavati, a lady with an iron will and the abilities to get what she wanted. What would you say about her? Was she black or white? Or again, in the grey?

And of course Karna, a person who did no wrong in his life other than hold friendship above 'dharma'. Was he wrong about that? Does repaying a friend's due specially someone who helps you during your lows allow you to take the wrong side later on? Guess it doesn't, given how Karna's fate turned out. But faced with the same situation in your life, what would you do?