Anger Management

Manu, the oldest Law Maker, (his name is in the oldest book in the world, the Rig Veda), lists the eight bad qualities that come out of anger:

Paisunam saahasam droha iirshyaarsuuyaarthaduushanamVaagdandajam sa paarushyam krodajopi ganoshtakah

Manu 7-48
Slander, physical violence, malice, envy, resentment, destruction of property, verbal abuse and assault are the eight vices born out of anger.

Anger in Mahabharata

There is a beautiful sloka/couplet in the Mahabharata:

Akrodhena jayet krodham, asaadhum saadhunaa jayetJayet kadaryam daanena, jayet satyena caanrutam

Meaning:-Conquer the anger of others by non-angerConquer evildoers by saintliness,Conquer the miser by giftsConquer falsehood by truth-Udhyogaparva, 38-73,74

It is interesting to compare it with what the Budhha said:-Overcome anger by peacefulnessOvercome evil by goodOvercome the mean by generosityAnd the man who lies by truth–Dhammapada 223

Buddha came approximately 2500 years after Vyasa, the author of Mahabharata.

Uttama, Madhhyama, Adhama and Papi

Uttame sa kshanam kopo madhyame ghatikaadwayamAdhame sydahoraatram paapishtee maranaantaka:

Good people won’t feel the anger for more than a moment.

People in the next rank – not so good, but O.K—will feel the anger for 48 minutes (i.e. for two ghatikaas; a ghatikaa is 24 minutes).

People at the lower level, will be angry for 24 hours (Aha:+raatri).

But the sinners (paapishta:) will keep the anger till they die.

Those who feel the anger over an incident for ever are sinners! That is the message it gives.

The anger of the great is not long-lasting and ends on a gentle note – Bharatamanjari 1-26-1141