At this, Rukma was filled with anger and shame and went to Duryodhana's
camp with his army."The Pandavas have refused my proffered assistance." Said be
to Duryodhana. "My forces are at your disposal."
"Is it not after the Pandavas rejected your assistance that you
have come here?" exclaimed Duryodhana, and added: "I am not in such dire need
yet as to welcome their leavings."
Rukma, thus put to disgrace by both sides, returned to his kingdom
without taking part in battle.Neutrality in war may be of several kinds.
It may arise from conscientious objection to war or it may be due to
mere conceit and self-interest. Yet others may keep aloof through cowardice or sheer
inertia.
Balarama was neutral in the Maha bharata war because of his love of
peace. Rukma, on the other hand, abstained as a result of his conceit.
Instead of acting according to dharma, he thought of personal glory,
and neither side would have him.
