yahooyoga: Non stealing (asteya)

Asteya (Non Stealing) is the third Yama. Asteya means non-stealing. Sage Patanjali (The propounded of Yoga philosophy) taught that to rob or steal is wrong. Even to be envious of what another owns is incorrect. The epic Ramayana provides a good example of a man who devotedly practiced the principle of Asteya. His name was Prince Bharata.

Bharats’s father, King Dasaratha, was the ruler of Ayodhya. Dasaratha had tree wives. The eldest wife Kausalya, was the mother of the crown prince Rama. The youngest wife Sumitra had two sons, Lakshmana and shatrughana. The middle wife Kaikeyi was the mother of Prince Bharata. Once while Prince Bharata was away at his grandfather’s house his mother queen kaikeyi learned that Prince rama was to be crowned the king soon. This upset her. She went to her husband King Dasaratha, and said "Grant me the two boons you had promised me years ago". "Certainly my beloved" replied the King. "First," said the ambitious Kaikeyi. "Let my son Bharata be crowned king and banish Rama to the forest for fourteen years."

King Dasaratha was heart-broken at Kaikeyi’s cruel demands. However, he was bound by his promise and granted Kaikeyi her boons. The obedient prince Rama left for the forest accompanied by his wife, Sita, and brother, Lakshmana. Urgent summons were sent to Prince Bharata to return. Meanwhile, the aged King Dasaratha died of grief.

As Bharata entered Ayodhya he noticed the down-cast faces of the people. 'Something is seriously wrong," he thought to himself as he rushed to his mother's chamber. Kaikeyi was delighted to see her son. "Oh Bharata," she proclaimed, you shall be crowned the king of Ayodhya! Your father is no more, and I have had Rama banished to the forest for fourteen years. The good Bharata was horrified at his mother’s words. "Mother", he cried, "You are blinded by greed.! I have no use for power, nor do I wish to rob my brother, Rama, of his kingdom! Bharata immediately left for the forest. "I must bring my beloved brother Rama back to rule his kingdom," he resolved.

In the Chitrakuta forest Bharata met up with Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. Falling at rama’s feet, the pure hearted Bharata sobbed, "forgive me dear brother. I am innocent. Please return to govern your land and people. Our father, the king is no more". Rama knew that Bharata was faultless, but he could not be persuaded to come out of exile. Finally, the wise sage Vashishtha intervened. He ordained that Bharata should serve as the king during Rama’s absence.

With a heavy heart Bharata agreed. Before departing Bharata begged Rama to give him his sandals. On returning to Ayodhya, Bharata humbly placed Rama's sandals on the throne. He then moved to a hermitage to the outskirts of Ayodhya. Living the simple life of an ascetic he ruled the kingdom from there. When Rama returned from exile after fourteen years, the pure-hearted Bharata gladly handed over the kingdom to Lord Rama.

It thus includes misappropriation, breach of trust, mismanagement and misuse. The Yogi reduces his physical needs to the minimum, believing that if he gathers things he does not really need, he is a thief. While other men crave for wealth, power, fame or enjoyment, the Yogi has one craving and that is to adore the Lord. Freedom from craving enables one to ward off great temptations. Craving muddies the stream of tranquillity. It makes men base and vile and cripples them. He who obeys the commandment Thou Shalt not Steal, becomes a trusted repository of all treasures.