Balancing Risk and Reward – The Poison and the Nectar In the legend of Samudra Manthan, the churning of the ocean produced both poison and nectar. The gods desired the nectar for immortality, but before they could attain it, someone had to absorb the poison. Lord Shiva took this upon himself, holding the poison in his throat, demonstrating the ability to endure pain for a greater purpose. In investing, risk and reward are inseparable—there is no reward without some degree of risk. Every market cycle brings opportunities (nectar) and challenges (poison). Investors who seek only gains without acknowledging risks often fall into speculative traps. However, wise investors, like Shiva, know how to manage risk: • They absorb volatility without panic. • They diversify to contain risk. • They maintain discipline The lesson here is not to fear risk but to manage it effectively. Just as Shiva’s ability to hold the poison enabled others to benefit from the nectar, an investor’s ability to withstand short-term uncertainty determines their long-term success. #happymahashivratri