A Mother's Command - (Mahabharata, Book 5 Udyoga Parva)

Before the Kurukshetra War, Kunti sent a message to Yudhisthira, using Vidula's story to exhort him to fight and reclaim what was rightfully theirs like a true Kshatriya.

Upon his father's death, prince Sanjaya became the leader of Sauvira.  He was young and inexperienced. The neighbouring king of Sindhu saw this as the perfect opportunity to attack Sauvira. Sanjaya was petrified when he heard the news of the Sindhu army marching towards his capital. Sanjaya's mother, Vidula, urged him to lead his men to confront the rivals.

Stoked by his mother's words, Sanjaya led his army out of the fort.  The Sindhu king had thought that he would capture the fort easily without any opposition. However, he was proven wrong by the young monarch. As the Sindhu king's army attacked the Sauvira forces, warhorses thundered and blades clashed across the field. Unnerved by the fatal attack, Sanjaya turned his horse and rode back to the fort.

Seeing her son returning from the battle-field, Vidula ordered the guards to shut the gates of the fort ensuring Sanjay could not enter. Badly injured, the young king was anticipating words of consolation from his mother. Instead of showing sympathy, she prodded him to rush to the battle field immediately. "Put aside your fear and rise, O coward!"  Vidula screamed from the fort ramparts.  To rouse her son's bravery, she said, "blaze like tinduka wood, even if only for a moment; do not, like damp chaff [or a paddy-chaff fire], smoulder without flame, clinging to life. Better to burn bright for a moment than to smoke forever and ever."

These words implied that either he vanquished the enemy and returned home victorious, or fought till his last breath. This tremendously encouraged Sanjaya, boosting his morale and he turned back with full might.  Such was his exceptional bravery in the battle that Sanjaya's soldiers too fought with immense courage and resolve. Soon the tide turned against the Sindhu leader who fled with his men and Sanjaya returned victorious!

Vidula's call echoed during India's freedom struggle. Sri Aurobindo drew on queen Vidula's words from the Mahabharata to inspire Indians fighting for freedom, translating her fierce exhortation into the spirited poem, 'The Mother to Her Son'.

Moral of the Fable: Be courageous. Never give up in adversity.