Esha’s Challenges
For five years, Esha served as a project manager at a reputed corporate firm. Her reputation for thoroughness, commitment, and ability to juggle multiple tasks preceded her. However, in the last year, Esha found herself increasingly uninspired. Economic challenges had negatively impacted the company’s revenue, consequently freezing salary increases and bonuses.
Though she consistently dedicated long hours and excellence to her assignments, her compensation remained unchanged. Esha began doubting whether her contributions were appreciated. Considering a career shift for better opportunities crossed her mind, but the volatile job market rendered such decisions daunting.
Compounding her dissatisfaction was the evolving situation at home. Her family relied heavily on her income, especially her aging parents in need of medical assistance. Additionally, she aimed to support her younger sibling’s educational pursuits. The tension was building from every angle. Yearning for a shift, she recognized that resigning wouldn’t necessarily improve the circumstances.
One evening, after an exhausting day, Esha took a moment to contemplate her situation. “Should I just leave and look for something better?” she pondered. Yet, she understood that making hasty decisions wasn’t wise. Patience, tranquility, and resilience were essential virtues. It was then that she recalled a tale her grandmother shared—the tale of Sumitra from the Ramayana.
The Legend of Sumitra
Sumitra, the gentle and compassionate queen, was one of King Dashrath’s three wives. Renowned for her intelligence, kindness, and selflessness, she earned the affection of all in the royal household. Despite her high standing, Sumitra’s true strength lay in her composed demeanor and her capacity for sisterly affection towards the other queens, Kaushalya and Kaikeyi.
As a mother, Sumitra instilled in her sons the principles of dedication and altruism. When Lakshman expressed his wish to accompany Rama into exile, Sumitra, without hesitation, encouraged him to serve his elder sibling faithfully. She recognized the significance of sacrifice for a noble cause. Her wisdom shone as she told Lakshman, “I will care for Kaushalya, who will be mourning for her son, and you must take care of Rama and Sita in the forest. They need you now.”
Even when faced with the prospect of her son being away for fourteen years, Sumitra exhibited remarkable poise and serenity. She understood that making personal sacrifices was sometimes essential for the greater good and that loyalty to family and responsibilities would lead to a life of fulfillment.
Lesson from the Tale
As Esha contemplated Sumitra’s narrative, it dawned on her that her own struggles, though demanding, called for a similar perspective. Sumitra had embraced her situation with grace and recognized the significance of patience, selflessness, and commitment to her family’s needs.
Esha realized that her current lack of recognition wouldn’t warrant rash actions. Like Sumitra, who didn’t dwell on her hardships but fully accepted her role, Esha resolved to maintain her focus on her work and family. She decided to await the appropriate moment for change, not allowing temporary challenges to skew her judgment.
Esha discovered that often the most meaningful rewards in life are not immediate accolades or monetary gains, but the inner peace that accompanies the fulfillment of duty performed with dignity.