Semal Tree boasts its power in front of Narada and insults the Vayu deity
After Yudhisthira was crowned as King of Hastinapur, Lord Krishna freed excellent Bhishma from all of his sufferings before his death and requested him to alleviate Yudhisthira from mourning over the dead Kshatriyas through the way of advising him on Dharma. Yudhishthira asked Bhishma Pitamaha how a weak man who's much less strong, of low fame, create animosity in all things should shield himself from the attack of his strong enemy who is capable of doing favours and harms and gives everlasting efforts after making him angry by way of saying unworthy while boasting? In response, Bhishma mentioned the conversation of Wind god and Semal(simal) tree. Let us know about it quick.
Once there was a Semal tree at the Himalayan mountain. It had come to be stronger over time and it became very green with full of leaves. Under the shadow of that dense tree, many elephants and other animals used to rest in the sun and out of getting tired of exertion. The length of that tree became four hundred cubits. Groups of parrots and mynas used to roost on it. The tree turned into full of fruits and plants. Merchants touring in groups, forest dwellers, ascetics and others too used to rest below that stunning and noble tree.
One day Devarshi Narada seeing the big and thick branches of that tree went near it and said, “Semal tree! you are very elegant and lovely. You constantly make us happy. Always plenty of birds and many animals take rest above and below you. I see that even wind god or Vayudeva couldn't destroy your branches and thick stems. Is wind god special to you for some purpose? Is he happy with you or usually shielding you in this woodland out of friendship? Deity Vayu is so speedy which can even shake small and big trees or even the peaks of the mountains from their places. Holy wind can dry up Patala, lakes, streams and the oceans too. There's no doubt that Vayudeva desires to consider you as his friend. That is why you're full of many branches leaves and flowers. It seems that these birds are enjoying in your branches and singing in melodious voice in spring. Similarly, different species of animals also are enhancing your beauty. By being the abode of everybody, you are decorated like Meru Mountain. Moreover being purified through penance of ascetics, united by brahmins and labourers, this vicinity of yours looks like heaven to me. It seems that you are very humble in front of the wind and you usually say to him that ‘I am yours', due to this he constantly defends you. I've not seen any tree, mountain or residence on this earth which isn't damaged by the force of the wind. It is my perception that Vayudeva can damage everyone down. There are absolutely some reasons, inspired by the way of which Vayudeva protects you and your family for which course you stand like this.”
Semala said, “Brahmin! Vayu is neither my friend nor well-wisher. He is not even Brahma, who will defend me. My swiftness and power are more fierce than the wind. Vayu through his complete strength can not even reach that. Whilst the wind, breaking trees, mountains and other things, reaches near me, at that point, I forestall his motion with the aid of my power. Likewise, I've stopped the movement of the destroyer wind oftentimes. So although he gets indignant, I'm not frightened of him.”
Hearing this communication of Naradji, Vayudeva went to Semal and stated in anger that, “Semal! you have condemned me in front of Naradji. I will show you my strength and impact. I understand you properly I know a whole lot about you. Lord Brahma had rested under your shadow at the same time as creating the world. I had given this grace on you simplest because of his rest, that is why you are being protected by me not from your strength.” Semal laughed and said to him, “Wind! You get indignant and display all of your strength. Take out your anger on me. What will you do to me being angry? Even though you are very forceful, yet I am now not frightened of you. I am more powerful than you. Those who are strong in intelligence are considered strong. Those who have only bodily power aren't considered truly strong.” Vayu then agreed to show him his might the next day.
It was nighttime. Semal while contemplating about what was approximate to be done via Vayu, and not seeing himself as strong as Vayu, thought that “all the things I had stated to Naradji were false. I am unable to face the wind, due to the fact his forces are greater than mine. As Naradji said, Vayudeva is endlessly strong. I am weaker than other trees, there is no question about it. However, no tree is like me in my intellect. I will get rid of the fear of wind by taking shelter of the intellect. If other trees residing within the forest also take the support of the same intellect, then no question they'll not be harmed through the angry wind. However they're fools; consequently, they do not have knowledge of the way Vayudev suppresses them in anger.” Then Semal itself then left its branches, and twigs, leaves and flowers and waited for the advent of wind in the morning.
Thereafter, in the morning, angry Vayudeva whilst destroying the large trees got here to the vicinity wherein the Semal tree was. He noticed that the leaves of Semal had already fallen and its branches had collapsed. It appeared inferior even to flowers, then he was very pleased and smiled at Semal whose branches had been huge earlier.” He stated to Semal that, “I desired to make you like this only out of wrath. You yourself have suffered now, your branches have fallen. Flowers, leaves, etc have been all destroyed. You have bought this calamity on your superiority. You have become a victim of my strength and might.” Listening to this statements of Vayu, Semal became ashamed at that time and began repenting a lot after remembering what Naradji had stated.
(In addition, a foolish guy who, being weak himself, crises with a strong guy, he is as much suffering as Semal, so the weak guy must not do enmity with the strong. If he does, he reaches the equal deplorable circumstance as Semala and will become miserable. Great men do not display animosity in the direction of individuals who do their evil. They slowly show their power. A man of false intellect must not envy a wise guy, due to the fact the awareness of the wise reaches everywhere. There is no other person in the world who can equate a wise guy with the strength of intelligence. Consequently, the adverse behaviour done by a child, idiot, blind, deaf and person who has grown in strength than himself, should additionally be forgiven. This forgiveness was present within Yudhisthira. Eighteen Akshauhini armies were not equal in strength to wonderful Arjuna, the successful son of Indra and Pandu, who rely on his power, killed all those armies and drove them away.)
Ref: Mahabharata book Shanti Parva