Damocles was one of the courtiers of King Dionysius II who ruled over
the ancient kingdom of Syracuse (the Greek area of southern Italy) in the fourth
century B.C. Damocles was much impressed by the immense wealth, luxurious life
style, delicious food and palatial possessions of the king and used to remark that a king's life was the most fortunate
experience on earth.
The
words of Damocles reached the king's ears. To teach him a lesson, the king
arranged a banquet and gave Damocles a chance to adorn the royal throne . He
was provided with attractive attendants, beautiful dancers, costly clothing,
delicious drinks, delightful lighting,
expensive decorations, exotic
perfumes, fabulous food, fragrant flowers, fine furniture, melodious music, and luxurious surroundings. Damocles felt that he was the most fortunate
and the happiest man in the world.
Suddenly he raised his eyes to the ceiling and was shocked to see a
sharp sword suspended from the ceiling on a single horse hair, with its point
almost touching his head. He was afraid that the fragile hair would snap at any
moment and the heavy sword may fall on
him and kill him. Terrified by the
imminent danger, he could not enjoy any pleasure or luxury that surrounded him.
He tearfully begged the king for relieving him from the present precarious
predicament to return to his poor but
peaceful and safer life.
From this bitter experience, Damocles
learned that happiness is fragile and that danger surrounds every powerful
person. The phrase 'Damocles' sword' implies imminent peril and impending
disaster.
'Death' is the Damocles' sword for all
mortals. Death often appears unexpectedly. At every moment of
life, we must be prepared and ready to meet and greet death as a friend. Life
is short and all worldly riches and luxury have to be left behind when we die.
They give only a temporary joy. Sinful indulgence in worldly pleasures may lead
to everlasting agony in a hell of horror.
Death is the universal equalizer.
Everyone is equal before death as death comes to all - great and small. At his
deathbed, Alexander the Great instructed his close associates to leave his
hands hanging free on either side of the coffin during his royal funeral
procession. That was to teach the world that he could carry nothing with him on
his final journey.
We fail to realize this truth till we reach the last moments in life. We
waste a major share of our time, health and energy to amass fame, wealth and
glory.
There is a meaningful song in Malayalam which
may be translated as follows:
“Death will reach you once,
Bear in mind, mortals.
Actions done by you
Come along with you.
Do good deeds and be ready
Do not be lazy.”
Man’s way leads to a hopeless
end while God’s way leads to an endless hope. Let us plan ahead for the
unavoidable departure from this world.
........................................................................................................................................................
© By Prof. Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin
University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala,
India, Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St.
Dominic's College, Kanjirappally, Leo. S. John, St. Antony's Public
School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally and Neil John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath,
Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally, Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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