The Balance is a philosophical study by Shon Mehta on the Moral Equality of Combatants, illustrating when a leader must choose mercy over execution.
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| God King of Rongcha stands embodying the wisdom required to rule the Rongcha kingdom. |
Once upon a time, there was a great Rongcha kingdom. The great kingdom had frequent battles with the neighbouring kingdom. The reason for the battles was the border dispute between these two kingdoms.
The king a wise man was getting old. So he thought of grooming his son as his successor. Therefore, the next time when the king went for the battle, he took his son along with him. His son, the young prince, was as brave as his father. In the battle the prince fought like a lion and captured a warlord of the enemy kingdom. The prince brought this warlord in front of the king.
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| King leads the young prince to the border, teaching him that leadership begins on the battlefield. |
“What should we do with this scum?” asked the prince, pointing at the enemy warlord.
“I think we should kill him, Your Highness” spoke one eager minister.
“And why is that?” asked the king, glaring at the minister.
“Pardon me, My King. I thought that because he is our enemy and he is fighting a war against us, he deserves to die” answered the scared minister.
“I agree with him father” said the prince.
“No. Hold him as a prisoner” said the king.
So, the warlord was taken as a prisoner.
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| Amidst the smoke of a ruined village, the prince learns that true cruelty lacks the empathy required for forgiveness. |
Time passed by. One day, news of plundering in the remote villages of the kingdom reached the palace. The prince marched towards those villages with huge army. When the prince reached the villages, what he saw was unimaginable. The plunderers had burned the villages and murdered the villagers. The plunderers had not even spared the women and children.
The prince chased the plunderers with his army and captured their chief.
After his return, the prince presented the plunderer chief to the king.
“Father, this is the chief of the plunderers. What should we do with him?”
“Behead him immediately” said the king angrily.
The chief of the plunderers was beheaded without delay.
After few days prince requested a private meeting with the king.
“Father, there is something troubling me; I need to ask you about it” said the prince.
“Ask, my son” said the king, warmly.
“Last time, when you captured the enemy warlord, you forgave him after a mild punishment. But this time, you beheaded the chief plunderer. Why is there such a difference in the punishments?”
“Last time, when we captured the warlord, he was following orders of his king. He was fighting with soldiers who were equally armed. Hence, I forgave him. But the plunderers not only raided armless villages, but also brutally murdered innocent children and women. Forgiveness works against opponents that are capable of empathy and morality. There is no forgiveness for such a horrible crime. If you want to be great leader, you should know how to balance between punishment and forgiveness.
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| Seated on his throne, the King reveals the secret of the balance: mercy for the honorable soldier, but justice for the heartless criminal. |
Sayings of Jivavarta
“A leader who only punishes is a tyrant; a leader who only forgives is a fool. A good leader thinks carefully about justice before acting.” — Shon Mehta
Rongcha Justice — A philosophy of statecraft in which justice is guided by the moral nature of one's actions. Honorable combatants in legitimate war may be shown mercy, while those who commit atrocities against the defenseless forfeit mercy and face uncompromising punishment. A wise ruler balances compassion with accountability.
The Philosophical Concepts of The Balance
I. The Moral Equality of Combatants
This concept defends the King’s decision to hold the warlord as a prisoner rather than executing him. It posits that soldiers are not private murderers but agents of a state. As long as they fight within the rules of war, they are entitled to honorable treatment, regardless of which side they are on.
II. The Principle of Distinction
The King’s anger at the plunderer is rooted in this fundamental axiom of the law of war. It requires that a warrior must distinguish between "armed soldiers" and "armless villages" (civilians). By targeting those "not even sparing women and children," the plunderer forfeited his status as a soldier and became a criminal.
III. Retributive Justice
This concept supports the "beheading without delay." It suggests that the most heinous crimes require a punishment that is proportional to the moral gravity of the act. The King uses this to restore the moral order that was shattered by the plunderer’s brutality.
IV. The Social Contract
This describes the King’s duty to protect his people. The warlord’s battle was a dispute between two kings (political), but the plunderer’s raid was a violation of the "contract" of safety between a ruler and his citizens. The King punishes the plunderer to uphold the legitimacy of his own rule.
V. Jus in Bello (Right Conduct in War)
The King differentiates the two men based on their conduct. The warlord followed the "orders of his king" and fought fair, meeting the criteria for Jus in Bello. The plunderer engaged in "horrible crimes," proving he lacked the "empathy and morality" required to be treated with mercy.
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Originally published in 2013 as a short parable, this updated edition of Stories of Jivavarta: The Balance elevates the tale into a deep philosophical study. This version features stunning Ladakhi-inspired imagery and a new academic breakdown of the five core concepts—including Retributive Justice and The Social Contract—that define the God King’s wisdom.
Images above are inspired by the rich cultural heritage of Ladakh, prominently featuring the Goncha—a voluminous, double-breasted wool robe that serves as the cornerstone of traditional attire. The characters are depicted wearing the formal Tibi (hat) and a colorful Skeyraks (waistband), which traditionally creates a functional pocket for carrying essential items. This ceremonial styling, often paired with fur-lined Tsa-zar cloaks, reflects the regal aesthetics of Ladakhi royalty and village headmen, perfectly capturing the atmosphere of Stories of Jivavarta: The Balance.
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Shon Mehta is an author and philosopher known for creating the Jivavarta Universe, a fictional setting used to explore sociopolitical themes, human resilience, and moral philosophy. Her work has transitioned from contemporary fiction to foundational academic material used in several countries. Rough Hewn is her series of reflective essays, where she explores the personal memories and philosophies behind her writing.
True leadership in the Rongcha Kingdom is the "Balance" between mercy and retribution, rooted in the Principle of Distinction. By contrasting the honorable Warlord with the heartless Plunderer, the King proves that Jus in Bello (right conduct) must dictate the consequence. While those who respect the Social Contract earn empathy, those who target the innocent become moral threats that must be eliminated—ensuring a ruler remains a protector rather than a tyrant or a fool.
ReplyDeleteMove over Aesop- Shon Mehta is the writer of fable for the modern era. Her Jivavarta universe and its philosophical parables in The Timingila offer a narrative depth that goes beyond traditional moralism. As a modern myth-maker, Mehta’s work is arguably deeper than Aesop, replacing simple lessons with complex existential questions. It’s less of a 'fable' and more of a blueprint for future storytelling. BTW thanks for giving interesting info on Ladakh.
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