In one of my previous posts, "Four Purushaarth", I wrote that Arth (wealth) is the most important thing in one's life. Without it nothing is possible, neither to satisfy desires, nor to do Dharm Karm and thus not to get Moksh which are the four important Purushaarth of a human being's life. In Kali Yug the wealth is considered second to Bhagavaan, even if not equal to Bhagavaan
Today I am citing two great incidents from our two most important scriptures - Vaalmeeki Raamaayan and Mahaabhaarat, which prove that even Bhagavaan and Devtaa-like men also considered wealth the most important in a human life.
From Vaalmeeki Raamaayan
In Vaalmeeki Raaamaayan, 6/33, when Raam and Raavan war was going on, once Meghnaad plays Maayaa trick with Raam. He creates a Maayaa (illusionary) Seetaa, and attempts to kill Her in front of Vaanar army. Hanumaan was in the front of the army so he got very angry seeing this. He abused Meghnaad very much but there was no effect of his abuses on him. At last pulling Her hair, Meghnaad killed Her. Seeing Seetaa killed Hanumaan got extremely sad, lost control and thought - "What we had come for here, to take Seetaa back, and the same Seetaa is killed. What is the use of our fighting with Raavan now? Let us go to Raam and report this to Him." So he went to Raam and reported it to Him. As was expected from Bhagavaan in human form, Raam immediately got unconscious hearing this news.
Seeing this Lakshman also got very sad. He lifted Raam in his arms and started consoling Him with his philosophical ideas. At that time along with other reasons, Dharm etc, he says to Raam - "I told you about the demerits of leaving wealth even before. What intelligence did you use when you were coming to forest? Whoever has the wealth, his all aims, Kaam, Dharm, and Moksh are fulfilled, while a poor man cannot fulfill his aims in spite of doing his best. Happiness, desire, pride, Dharm, anger, peace, Daan (charity) all qualities remain only with rich people. Even for Tapaswee, this Lok becomes sorrowful without wealth. The same sorrows have destroyed your life also - without wealth which you don't have. As in bad days even auspicious planets do not stay along with a human being in the same way no happiness stay with a poor person.
There will be friends only for a person who has wealth, there will be relatives only for a person who has wealth. Only a wealthy person will be praised as embodiment of manliness and storehouse of all knowledge. Only a wealthy person is called valorous, source of fortune, and repository of all virtues. Only a wealthy person remains a person whose duties, desires and earthly needs are all effectively looked after and all the needy go around him in supplication. A poor person could not achieve any favorable results even he is ready to strive hard."
Thus Lakshman spoke to Raam about wealth.
From Mahaabhaarat
After Mahaabhaarat war, Ashwamedh Parv, 7/4, had ended and Yudhishthir was very sad after killing his relatives, friends, Guru etc people, Muni Vyaas Jee suggested him to do Ashwamedh Yagya. But Yudhishthir did not have so much money so that he could do any kind of Yagya - Ashwamedh Yagya or Sarvmedh Yagya etc. Yudhishthir said to Vyaas Jee - "I know that all kinds of sins can be purified by sacrifice, austerity and donations, but I don't have money even for a small sacrifice. Duyodhan has emptied the royal treasury. Tell me what to do." Then Vyaas Jee suggests him to bring the gold left by Braahman in Raajaa Marutt's Yagya. Thus Vyaas Jee had to make wealth available to Yudhishthir to get rid of his sadness and sins.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
Showing posts with label Yudhishthir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yudhishthir. Show all posts
Monday, January 14, 2013
Thursday, November 22, 2012
What You Sow
What You Sow, What You Reap
People always complain - "Why does God give us suffering?"
First of all one must be sure that God does not make us suffer. It is only we who make ourselves suffer with our own Karm (actions). Our Karm are like seeds, whatever seed we will sow, the same kind of fruit we will reap. As a mango seed cannot give gooseberry fruit, in the same way a good Karm cannot reap a bad fruit - it may be that it might take some more time to reap that fruit, but the fruit cannot change.
And as when the seed is sown and it has to grow and give fruit, sooner or later, in the same way all Karm, and in Kali Yug even good and bad thoughts, have to give their fruits on their time, so no escape from any Karm or thought you have done or thought about. That is why in Hindu religion it is stressed that one must always think, say, and do (Manasaa, Vaachaa and Karmanaa) good for everybody, so that you are safe to enjoy life and not to suffer.
Sometimes in our life we face suffering whether physically, mentally or spiritually. It is a common fact that nobody wants to suffer, so if we could program his or her life from the moment of conception, there would be no suffering in our life. But just think, can it be like this? Even the best and greatest people sometimes act badly or wrongly, that is why they have to come again to this world to enjoy or suffer for those Karm.
Value of Suffering?
According to the law of Karm one has to reap what had been sown in the form of Karm. So the value of suffering is that it reminds us that "we have committed some bad Karm, and we should not do such Karm in future. Some people learn lessons from their suffering, while others not; because they still continue to do bad Karm. As some people learn from falling, while some people not. Suffering is an effect of a cause (bad Karm) which warns people not to do it again if they do not want to suffer. For the same reason everybody suffers for the same act differently, because everybody has his own contribution of his heart, thoughts and Karm, and so are their fruits.
Why Can Sages Take Others' Suffering
As written above about the virtues or sins, they have to be reaped, whether the doer reaps or somebody else reaps. Puraan gives several stories about this transfer of Karm (both types), but both should be bold enough to to receive somebody's sins and to give the fruits of his virtues. Thus it is not that the sins or virtues cannot be transferred but most people do not like to take others virtues in exchange of their sins, nor most people want to give the fruits of their virtues to others in exchange of others' sins. It is only saints who can do this, and who do this they are known as saints. That is in their nature that they take others' sorrows and distribute them happiness.
BUT as somebody has to suffer for those sins, the saints suffer for those others' sins. Most people do not know this theory that is why they go those saints and request them to alleviate their sorrows through their earned virtues. Ordinary people do not understand that by doing that they are taking their virtues and then to distribute more virtues to others, they have to earn more, and that is why they are all the time busy in Jaap, worship, Yagya etc.
All people are suffering from some kind of sin since long time, you can set all of them free in one stroke by taking their sins and giving your earned virtue (if you have earned any). Are you willing to deposit your own virtue into their life account and take their sins in exchange? Can you dare?
These saints have to suffer a lot for those blessings they have showered on people, because they have to clear the account of their lives before they leave this world according to "Sow and Reap" principle. They cannot leave this world without paying off their all loans. They have to reap the fruits of those sins which they have taken from others in exchange of their virtues. If the person's sin is light, they will suffer less, but if his sin is very grave, they have to suffer gravely.
Some Examples
(1) Once a person came to Sat Saaee Baabaa and asked him to cure his son from an incurable disease. He said - "Do you want him to come in this world again to suffer from the same sin?" He did not understand what Baabaa said, then he explained him - "Everybody has to enjoy and suffer for his Karm. There is no escape. If he has not consumed the fruit of his Karm in this life, he has to come here again to consume them, so it is better if you let him consume their fruit in this life." He understood and went away.
(2) In Mahaabhaarat TV Serial, when Draupadee says to Yudhishthir that she had committed a mistake while all people gathered for his Raajsooya Yagya, that she laughed at Duryodhan when he fell in the water in Maya Sabhaa. At that time there is a dialog of Yudhishthir, which I like very much so I quote it here, Yudhishthir said - "This is not a good sign. We will have to pay heavily for this sin. It will be better for us if we consume its fruits in this life only." And after that Vidur Jee came to invite them for dice game. They lost both games and they had to go to exile for 13 years.
(3) I have read this on Internet, I do not know its genuineness because I have not read this anywhere else, in the same Mahaabhaarat, Abhimanyu is said to be the grandson of Moon god' - Moon god's son of Varchas' son, but his soul was of Kaalayavan Daitya, [how this became possible that being the grandson of Mooon god he was the incarnation of Kaalayavan Daitya, I don't know]. Since Krishn knew this, He did not let him learn to come out of Chakra Vyooh. Because if he did not die in this war, he would have become invincible after the war and even Krishn could not have defeated him. Thus because of his Karm he had to die like this.
(4) In the same Mahaabhaarat, after Paandav's Swargaarohan, when Yudhishthir was taken to show Hell by Indra, as he reached there, the people living in hell felt very comfortable; and as soon as he was returning from there, they started crying - "O Son of Dharm, please stand here for some more time. We are feeling much better in your presence." Yudhishthir asked - "Who are you and why are you feeling better in my presence?" Those people said - "I am Karn, I am Bheem." Hearing their names Yudhishthit got stunned that his own people who were so righteous are in Hell. He said to the messenger of Indra who brought him to show Hell - "You go away from here, I am not going anywhere from here, because by my standing here, my brothers are comforted." The messenger went back to Indra and reported this to him. Within a moment Indra came there and all scenes disappeared from there. So this is the effect of people's virtues that even their presence comforts the Hell dwellers.
Thus one has to suffer or enjoy the fruits of his Karm, whether it is a virutous Karm or a sin. That is another matter that we love pleasures and hate sorrows and suffering, so as soon we feel sorrow and suffering, we get disturbed and wish to alleviate them as soon as possible. If we will not suffer our sorrows, somebody else has to suffer them, but who else is going to suffer for others when one does not want to suffer even for himself? It has to be done on exchange basis, then who is going to give his pleasures for one's sins? If one can do that, the other person's sorrows can be alleviated.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
People always complain - "Why does God give us suffering?"
First of all one must be sure that God does not make us suffer. It is only we who make ourselves suffer with our own Karm (actions). Our Karm are like seeds, whatever seed we will sow, the same kind of fruit we will reap. As a mango seed cannot give gooseberry fruit, in the same way a good Karm cannot reap a bad fruit - it may be that it might take some more time to reap that fruit, but the fruit cannot change.
And as when the seed is sown and it has to grow and give fruit, sooner or later, in the same way all Karm, and in Kali Yug even good and bad thoughts, have to give their fruits on their time, so no escape from any Karm or thought you have done or thought about. That is why in Hindu religion it is stressed that one must always think, say, and do (Manasaa, Vaachaa and Karmanaa) good for everybody, so that you are safe to enjoy life and not to suffer.
Sometimes in our life we face suffering whether physically, mentally or spiritually. It is a common fact that nobody wants to suffer, so if we could program his or her life from the moment of conception, there would be no suffering in our life. But just think, can it be like this? Even the best and greatest people sometimes act badly or wrongly, that is why they have to come again to this world to enjoy or suffer for those Karm.
Value of Suffering?
According to the law of Karm one has to reap what had been sown in the form of Karm. So the value of suffering is that it reminds us that "we have committed some bad Karm, and we should not do such Karm in future. Some people learn lessons from their suffering, while others not; because they still continue to do bad Karm. As some people learn from falling, while some people not. Suffering is an effect of a cause (bad Karm) which warns people not to do it again if they do not want to suffer. For the same reason everybody suffers for the same act differently, because everybody has his own contribution of his heart, thoughts and Karm, and so are their fruits.
Why Can Sages Take Others' Suffering
As written above about the virtues or sins, they have to be reaped, whether the doer reaps or somebody else reaps. Puraan gives several stories about this transfer of Karm (both types), but both should be bold enough to to receive somebody's sins and to give the fruits of his virtues. Thus it is not that the sins or virtues cannot be transferred but most people do not like to take others virtues in exchange of their sins, nor most people want to give the fruits of their virtues to others in exchange of others' sins. It is only saints who can do this, and who do this they are known as saints. That is in their nature that they take others' sorrows and distribute them happiness.
BUT as somebody has to suffer for those sins, the saints suffer for those others' sins. Most people do not know this theory that is why they go those saints and request them to alleviate their sorrows through their earned virtues. Ordinary people do not understand that by doing that they are taking their virtues and then to distribute more virtues to others, they have to earn more, and that is why they are all the time busy in Jaap, worship, Yagya etc.
All people are suffering from some kind of sin since long time, you can set all of them free in one stroke by taking their sins and giving your earned virtue (if you have earned any). Are you willing to deposit your own virtue into their life account and take their sins in exchange? Can you dare?
These saints have to suffer a lot for those blessings they have showered on people, because they have to clear the account of their lives before they leave this world according to "Sow and Reap" principle. They cannot leave this world without paying off their all loans. They have to reap the fruits of those sins which they have taken from others in exchange of their virtues. If the person's sin is light, they will suffer less, but if his sin is very grave, they have to suffer gravely.
Some Examples
(1) Once a person came to Sat Saaee Baabaa and asked him to cure his son from an incurable disease. He said - "Do you want him to come in this world again to suffer from the same sin?" He did not understand what Baabaa said, then he explained him - "Everybody has to enjoy and suffer for his Karm. There is no escape. If he has not consumed the fruit of his Karm in this life, he has to come here again to consume them, so it is better if you let him consume their fruit in this life." He understood and went away.
(2) In Mahaabhaarat TV Serial, when Draupadee says to Yudhishthir that she had committed a mistake while all people gathered for his Raajsooya Yagya, that she laughed at Duryodhan when he fell in the water in Maya Sabhaa. At that time there is a dialog of Yudhishthir, which I like very much so I quote it here, Yudhishthir said - "This is not a good sign. We will have to pay heavily for this sin. It will be better for us if we consume its fruits in this life only." And after that Vidur Jee came to invite them for dice game. They lost both games and they had to go to exile for 13 years.
(3) I have read this on Internet, I do not know its genuineness because I have not read this anywhere else, in the same Mahaabhaarat, Abhimanyu is said to be the grandson of Moon god' - Moon god's son of Varchas' son, but his soul was of Kaalayavan Daitya, [how this became possible that being the grandson of Mooon god he was the incarnation of Kaalayavan Daitya, I don't know]. Since Krishn knew this, He did not let him learn to come out of Chakra Vyooh. Because if he did not die in this war, he would have become invincible after the war and even Krishn could not have defeated him. Thus because of his Karm he had to die like this.
(4) In the same Mahaabhaarat, after Paandav's Swargaarohan, when Yudhishthir was taken to show Hell by Indra, as he reached there, the people living in hell felt very comfortable; and as soon as he was returning from there, they started crying - "O Son of Dharm, please stand here for some more time. We are feeling much better in your presence." Yudhishthir asked - "Who are you and why are you feeling better in my presence?" Those people said - "I am Karn, I am Bheem." Hearing their names Yudhishthit got stunned that his own people who were so righteous are in Hell. He said to the messenger of Indra who brought him to show Hell - "You go away from here, I am not going anywhere from here, because by my standing here, my brothers are comforted." The messenger went back to Indra and reported this to him. Within a moment Indra came there and all scenes disappeared from there. So this is the effect of people's virtues that even their presence comforts the Hell dwellers.
Thus one has to suffer or enjoy the fruits of his Karm, whether it is a virutous Karm or a sin. That is another matter that we love pleasures and hate sorrows and suffering, so as soon we feel sorrow and suffering, we get disturbed and wish to alleviate them as soon as possible. If we will not suffer our sorrows, somebody else has to suffer them, but who else is going to suffer for others when one does not want to suffer even for himself? It has to be done on exchange basis, then who is going to give his pleasures for one's sins? If one can do that, the other person's sorrows can be alleviated.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Dice Games on Earth
Last time we wrote some events about the Dice Games in Heaven.Those games were mainly played by Shiv and Paarvatee and are mentioned in our scriptures. This article is about the Dice games played on Earth and these games are also mentioned in our scriptures. How they had affected the people is given here. There are three very main popular stories of Dice game go around.
(1) Nal and Pushkar
This story is very well known. It comes in Mahaabhaarat too. King Nal and King Pushkar were both brothers. Once Pushkar invited Nal to play Chausar (a kind of Dice game). Nal went there and started playing Chausar with him. In a few days time Nal lost his all wealth and kingdom in the game. He left the game saying that he had lost everything and he did not have anything to lose more so he was leaving. Pushkar reminded him to put his wife on stake but he was sensible so he left the game and the kingdom too.
He had to wander in the forest for several years. During their wanderings they had no food for several days and Then Nal saw some birds. Nal wanted to catch them for his food. Since they did not have anything to catch he threw his single cloth he had, a loin cloth he was wearing, to catch them as a net, but see the game of fate, that instead of helping in catching the birds, those birds flew away carrying the cloth and he remained naked. He got so distressed that he left his wife Damayantee sleeping and went away thinking that she would go to her parents' house.
Damayantee did reach her parents' house and started searching for her husband. By the wisdom of Damayantee they met again. Thus they had to suffer a lot before Nal could regain his kingdom and wealth from Pushkar. After returning from the forest, he played another Dice game with Pushkar and won it. Although he had won Pushkar's all wealth and kingdom but knowing the difficulties of the defeat he had seen during the past years he returned everything to him warning that he would not play Dice game again.
(2) Balaraam and Rukmee
Another story is from Bhaagvat Puraan. Krishn was married to Rukminee. Their son Pradyumn was married to Rukminee's brother Rukmee's daughter Rukmvatee, and Pradyumn's son Aniruddh was married to Rukmee's granddaughter Rochanaa. When Krishn and Balaraam went to marry Aniruddh to Rochanaa, everything went well and the marriage was performed without any significant event.
In the end, the King of Kaling said to Rukmee - "This Balaraam is ignorant in Dice game, if you can defeat him in Dice game, he will be degraded. Why not we should degrade him?" Rukmee got ready and he began to play the game with Balaraam. Rukmee won the few starting stakes. At this the King of Kaling teased Balaraam - "This man does not know anything of Dice game, how he can play the Dice game? He is only a cowherd. It is royal game. He just has only a passion for it, but it does not mean that he knows the game."
Balaraam Jee got very angry hearing all this and played his next chance with an increased money and won it. But Rukmee was blind in his winning so he did not agree to Balaraam's winning in spite of the Divine voice which declared Balaraam a winner. Balaraam got up in rage and hit Rukmee's head with the board of the game on which they were playing and killed him. He killed other princes also who were laughing at him. That is how the marriage and the game ended
(3) Paandav and Kaurav
This is the most known and most mentioned incident related to Dice game. This comes from Mahaabhaarat. Kaurav, especially their eldest brother Duryodhan was very jealous with Paandav and wanted to take their kingdom or kill them at any cost. After he failed to kill them in Baaranaavat Fair, and he failed to get Draupadee in marriage, his anger rose very high. He threatened his father to commit suicide or separate Paandav from him, so Dhritraashtra divided the kingdom and gave Khaandav Prasth to Paandav. When Paandav performed Raajsooya Yagya, he invited Dhritraashtra and his sons also. When Duryodhan saw his prosperity there in such a short time, his jealousy rose to sky high. Then he hatched a plan with the consultation of his Maamaa Shakuni. He invited Paandav for a Dice game.
Yudhishthir was addicted to Dice game, so he immediately came to Hastinaapur to play the game. According to his religious and moral nature, he played it on the terms of Duryodhan and lost all his wealth and kingdom. But then because of his addiction, he put on stake his brothers, and then even his wife and lost all of them too. As a result of his addiction, his wife had to suffer so much insult in the Dice game court that even Krishn had to come to help her and Bheem and Arjun had to take vows then and there only.
Somehow they got their wealth, kingdom, brothers and wife back and got ready to return to their kingdom, but how Duryodhan could tolerate all this? This was not his aim, so he invited them again to play the game and this time also he succeeded in defeating them with his evil tricks and sending them to forest for 13 years - 12 years of normal exile and one year of living incognito.
These are the three main famous incidents of the effects of Dice games played on Earth.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
(1) Nal and Pushkar
This story is very well known. It comes in Mahaabhaarat too. King Nal and King Pushkar were both brothers. Once Pushkar invited Nal to play Chausar (a kind of Dice game). Nal went there and started playing Chausar with him. In a few days time Nal lost his all wealth and kingdom in the game. He left the game saying that he had lost everything and he did not have anything to lose more so he was leaving. Pushkar reminded him to put his wife on stake but he was sensible so he left the game and the kingdom too.
He had to wander in the forest for several years. During their wanderings they had no food for several days and Then Nal saw some birds. Nal wanted to catch them for his food. Since they did not have anything to catch he threw his single cloth he had, a loin cloth he was wearing, to catch them as a net, but see the game of fate, that instead of helping in catching the birds, those birds flew away carrying the cloth and he remained naked. He got so distressed that he left his wife Damayantee sleeping and went away thinking that she would go to her parents' house.
Damayantee did reach her parents' house and started searching for her husband. By the wisdom of Damayantee they met again. Thus they had to suffer a lot before Nal could regain his kingdom and wealth from Pushkar. After returning from the forest, he played another Dice game with Pushkar and won it. Although he had won Pushkar's all wealth and kingdom but knowing the difficulties of the defeat he had seen during the past years he returned everything to him warning that he would not play Dice game again.
(2) Balaraam and Rukmee
Another story is from Bhaagvat Puraan. Krishn was married to Rukminee. Their son Pradyumn was married to Rukminee's brother Rukmee's daughter Rukmvatee, and Pradyumn's son Aniruddh was married to Rukmee's granddaughter Rochanaa. When Krishn and Balaraam went to marry Aniruddh to Rochanaa, everything went well and the marriage was performed without any significant event.
In the end, the King of Kaling said to Rukmee - "This Balaraam is ignorant in Dice game, if you can defeat him in Dice game, he will be degraded. Why not we should degrade him?" Rukmee got ready and he began to play the game with Balaraam. Rukmee won the few starting stakes. At this the King of Kaling teased Balaraam - "This man does not know anything of Dice game, how he can play the Dice game? He is only a cowherd. It is royal game. He just has only a passion for it, but it does not mean that he knows the game."
Balaraam Jee got very angry hearing all this and played his next chance with an increased money and won it. But Rukmee was blind in his winning so he did not agree to Balaraam's winning in spite of the Divine voice which declared Balaraam a winner. Balaraam got up in rage and hit Rukmee's head with the board of the game on which they were playing and killed him. He killed other princes also who were laughing at him. That is how the marriage and the game ended
(3) Paandav and Kaurav
This is the most known and most mentioned incident related to Dice game. This comes from Mahaabhaarat. Kaurav, especially their eldest brother Duryodhan was very jealous with Paandav and wanted to take their kingdom or kill them at any cost. After he failed to kill them in Baaranaavat Fair, and he failed to get Draupadee in marriage, his anger rose very high. He threatened his father to commit suicide or separate Paandav from him, so Dhritraashtra divided the kingdom and gave Khaandav Prasth to Paandav. When Paandav performed Raajsooya Yagya, he invited Dhritraashtra and his sons also. When Duryodhan saw his prosperity there in such a short time, his jealousy rose to sky high. Then he hatched a plan with the consultation of his Maamaa Shakuni. He invited Paandav for a Dice game.
Yudhishthir was addicted to Dice game, so he immediately came to Hastinaapur to play the game. According to his religious and moral nature, he played it on the terms of Duryodhan and lost all his wealth and kingdom. But then because of his addiction, he put on stake his brothers, and then even his wife and lost all of them too. As a result of his addiction, his wife had to suffer so much insult in the Dice game court that even Krishn had to come to help her and Bheem and Arjun had to take vows then and there only.
Somehow they got their wealth, kingdom, brothers and wife back and got ready to return to their kingdom, but how Duryodhan could tolerate all this? This was not his aim, so he invited them again to play the game and this time also he succeeded in defeating them with his evil tricks and sending them to forest for 13 years - 12 years of normal exile and one year of living incognito.
These are the three main famous incidents of the effects of Dice games played on Earth.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
Friday, April 20, 2012
Yudhishthir
Was Yudhishthir a Fool?
Many people consider Yudhishthir a fool, but I don't find any single instance of his foolishness in the whole Mahaabhaarat except that he put his brothers and wife on stake during the First Dice Game. When in the whole Mahaabhaarat there is no other incident of his foolishness, then why only the Dice game incident happened, is indeed questionable. It may be attributed only to the saying "Vinaash Kaale Vipareet Buddhi" - that is all. He has several other major important incidents on his side where one cannot deny his intelligence. He was always polite, with no ego and a follower of Dharm, even in adverse situations. We can cite here a few examples of his intelligence --
(1) Python Queries
His first incident which impresses the readers of Mahaabhaarat is of python's questions and his answers. When Bheem was going in a forest to bring flowers for Draupadee, he was caught by a python (Raajaa Nahush). Nahush had a curse of Sage Agastya to become python and only to be released from his curse when he would catch the mightiest man in the world and Yudhishthir will answer his questions. When Bheem does not come for quite some time, Yudhishthir goes in search of his brother and following his footsteps come to that python. Python puts his condition that he will free Bheem only when Yudhishthir will answer his questions. Yudhishthir answers his questions and then only the python releases Bheem. Then the python shows his real form of Raajaa Nahush and goes to Swarg Lok.
(2) Yaksh Prashn
His second incident which impresses the readers most and is very famous, is of Yaksh Prashn reference. When Paandav were in their 12-year exile period, during the last days of their exile, a deer ran away taking a Braahman's worship material, so they all went behind that deer to recover his material. The deer ran away and they were left behind. It was a hot day, all of them were tired and thirsty, so Yudhishthir first asked Nakul to see if there was any water around. He found a pond and goes to bring some water for his brothers.
There he is warned by a Yaksh that he could drink water only when he had answered his questions, otherwise he would die, but he ignores his warning and dies as he drinks the water. Then go Sahadev, Arjun and Bheem, but all ignore the warning, drink water and die there. All the younger Paandav ignored the Yaksh's request because of their ego, drank water and died there. Then goes Yudhishthir and finds all his brothers lying on the shore of the pond. As he also tries to drink water, he is also warned by Yaksh. So it was only Yudhishthir who, paid respect to the Yaksh's request, answered his all the questions and got his brothers back to life.
The valor of Arjun and Bheem failed them, while only the intelligence of Yudhishithir (acquired by virtue of his Dhaarmik conduct) helped to revive his brothers. Here too, when Yaksh grants him the life of his one brother, Yudhishthir chose Sahadev with the reason that Kuntee had her one son (himself) was alive, in the same way Maadree should also have her one son alive. Yudhishthir never chose Arjun or Bheem though they were more valiant than his stepmother's sons. Even when Yaksh grants him the life of his another brother's life, he again chooses Maadree's son Nakul. Pleased with his answers, Yaksh revives his own brothers too. He got so much pleased with his son that he not only revived his brothers, but also he granted him the boon that they would not be recognized in their A-Gyaat Vaas period.
(3) Yudhishthir in Viraat's Court
There are two incidents in Viraat Nagar when Paandav were spending their time of incognito in Viraat's kingdom. Yudhishthir saved themselves from further calamities.
(1) First time, when Keechak, the brother-in-law of Viraat, misbehaved with Draupadee and Draupadee came running in Viraat's court, Bheem was there for some work. Seeing this he filled with rage and he started cutting a tree. Yudhishthir understood and asked Bheem - "What are you doing here?" Bheem replied - I came here to cut the wood for cooking." Yudhishthir said - "These are green trees, you should look for the woods for your cooking somewhere else." And Bheem went away. If Yudhishthir had not said this, Bheem would have killed Keechak then and there and the whole plan had failed...
(2) Second time, when Viraat heard that his son Uttar is coming gaining the victory over Kaurav army in which were the great warriors like Bheeshm, Drone, Kripaa, Duryodhan, Karn, Ashwatthaamaa, he got so happy that he asked his Kank (Yudhishthir) to play Chausar (Dice Game) with him. Yudhishthir warned him several times that this is not the right time to play Chausar but he ignores his advice and both of them sit to play Chausar.
During the game Viraat is continuously praising his son and Yudhishthir continuously said that "Wherever Brihannalaa (Arjun) is, there cannot be any defeat." Hearing this continuously, Viraat got angry and he hit a dice on his nose. This caused bleeding from his nose. Viraat went away from thete to welcome his son and Yudhishthir immediately took that blood in a bowl, so that it does not fall on the ground. Yudhishthir knew that if Arjun had seen his blood fallen on the ground and knew the cause of it, he would destroy the whole Viraat kingdom, but he did not want that, because he knew the consequences of this action - they would have to go again for 13-year exile. So he managed to keep Arjun away from these moments. He asked Uttar to keep Arjun away from him for a while.
(4) Yudhishthir Just Before the War
As all were ready to begin the war, Yudhishthir takes an action, out of his Dhaarmik behavior. He climbs down from his chariot and proceedes towards kaurav army. Everybody including his own brothers are stunned to see this as what action he was going to take? Was he going to surrender? But it is not so. He comes to Bheeshm Pitaamaha, Guru Drone and Kul Guru Kripaa undauntedly and asks their permission to fight with them and ask their blessings for victory. Only because of his humility and good behavior he was able to obtain this blessing from all of them.
Our scriptures say " Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha " and not Buddhi (those who protect Dharm are protected by their Dharm itself and not by intelligence)
Why did scriptures give priority to Dharm over everything else?
Because, if one follows Dharm, Intelligence automatically flashes rightly in his mind when needed.
Intelligence is to be used for mundane things in life, like to eat intelligently, to manipulate things intelligently etc, but if we attempt to use intelligence in spirituality it will be disastrous. For spirituality one's heart (not the physical one) is required, not the intelligence.
If only intelligent people are wise, how does one justify an argument in the case of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, who is illiterate, yet the wisest of all. He never studied Upanishad but could answer any question on Upanishad since he used his heart to seat the holy Mother and not intelligence.
Therefore, Dharm is supreme and those who follow Dharm will be guided by correct intelligence automatically. Yudhishthir was undoubtedly Dharm personified, that is why he was intelligent enough to bring back his brothers to life and get the Lord's help at all times in his life.
Now who is a fool? Yudhishthir or those who call Yudhishthir a fool?
Before the Kuru Kshetra battle, Lord Krishn removed the ego of Bheem and Arjun - of Bheem through Hanumaan and the python (Nahush) and of Arjun by Kiraat and delivering him the Geetopadesh (Geetaa) that all the enemies are already slain by Krishn Himself before even the war occurred.
BUT THERE WAS NOTHING TO REMOVE FROM YUDHISHTHIR.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
Many people consider Yudhishthir a fool, but I don't find any single instance of his foolishness in the whole Mahaabhaarat except that he put his brothers and wife on stake during the First Dice Game. When in the whole Mahaabhaarat there is no other incident of his foolishness, then why only the Dice game incident happened, is indeed questionable. It may be attributed only to the saying "Vinaash Kaale Vipareet Buddhi" - that is all. He has several other major important incidents on his side where one cannot deny his intelligence. He was always polite, with no ego and a follower of Dharm, even in adverse situations. We can cite here a few examples of his intelligence --
(1) Python Queries
His first incident which impresses the readers of Mahaabhaarat is of python's questions and his answers. When Bheem was going in a forest to bring flowers for Draupadee, he was caught by a python (Raajaa Nahush). Nahush had a curse of Sage Agastya to become python and only to be released from his curse when he would catch the mightiest man in the world and Yudhishthir will answer his questions. When Bheem does not come for quite some time, Yudhishthir goes in search of his brother and following his footsteps come to that python. Python puts his condition that he will free Bheem only when Yudhishthir will answer his questions. Yudhishthir answers his questions and then only the python releases Bheem. Then the python shows his real form of Raajaa Nahush and goes to Swarg Lok.
Do you think that Yudhishthir was a fool?
(2) Yaksh Prashn
His second incident which impresses the readers most and is very famous, is of Yaksh Prashn reference. When Paandav were in their 12-year exile period, during the last days of their exile, a deer ran away taking a Braahman's worship material, so they all went behind that deer to recover his material. The deer ran away and they were left behind. It was a hot day, all of them were tired and thirsty, so Yudhishthir first asked Nakul to see if there was any water around. He found a pond and goes to bring some water for his brothers.
There he is warned by a Yaksh that he could drink water only when he had answered his questions, otherwise he would die, but he ignores his warning and dies as he drinks the water. Then go Sahadev, Arjun and Bheem, but all ignore the warning, drink water and die there. All the younger Paandav ignored the Yaksh's request because of their ego, drank water and died there. Then goes Yudhishthir and finds all his brothers lying on the shore of the pond. As he also tries to drink water, he is also warned by Yaksh. So it was only Yudhishthir who, paid respect to the Yaksh's request, answered his all the questions and got his brothers back to life.
Had Yudhishthir been a fool, how could he answer Yaksh's Prashn?
The valor of Arjun and Bheem failed them, while only the intelligence of Yudhishithir (acquired by virtue of his Dhaarmik conduct) helped to revive his brothers. Here too, when Yaksh grants him the life of his one brother, Yudhishthir chose Sahadev with the reason that Kuntee had her one son (himself) was alive, in the same way Maadree should also have her one son alive. Yudhishthir never chose Arjun or Bheem though they were more valiant than his stepmother's sons. Even when Yaksh grants him the life of his another brother's life, he again chooses Maadree's son Nakul. Pleased with his answers, Yaksh revives his own brothers too. He got so much pleased with his son that he not only revived his brothers, but also he granted him the boon that they would not be recognized in their A-Gyaat Vaas period.
If Yudhishthir were a fool, how could he please the Yaksh?
(3) Yudhishthir in Viraat's Court
There are two incidents in Viraat Nagar when Paandav were spending their time of incognito in Viraat's kingdom. Yudhishthir saved themselves from further calamities.
(1) First time, when Keechak, the brother-in-law of Viraat, misbehaved with Draupadee and Draupadee came running in Viraat's court, Bheem was there for some work. Seeing this he filled with rage and he started cutting a tree. Yudhishthir understood and asked Bheem - "What are you doing here?" Bheem replied - I came here to cut the wood for cooking." Yudhishthir said - "These are green trees, you should look for the woods for your cooking somewhere else." And Bheem went away. If Yudhishthir had not said this, Bheem would have killed Keechak then and there and the whole plan had failed...
Do you think that Yudhishthir took the intelligent action or......?
(2) Second time, when Viraat heard that his son Uttar is coming gaining the victory over Kaurav army in which were the great warriors like Bheeshm, Drone, Kripaa, Duryodhan, Karn, Ashwatthaamaa, he got so happy that he asked his Kank (Yudhishthir) to play Chausar (Dice Game) with him. Yudhishthir warned him several times that this is not the right time to play Chausar but he ignores his advice and both of them sit to play Chausar.
During the game Viraat is continuously praising his son and Yudhishthir continuously said that "Wherever Brihannalaa (Arjun) is, there cannot be any defeat." Hearing this continuously, Viraat got angry and he hit a dice on his nose. This caused bleeding from his nose. Viraat went away from thete to welcome his son and Yudhishthir immediately took that blood in a bowl, so that it does not fall on the ground. Yudhishthir knew that if Arjun had seen his blood fallen on the ground and knew the cause of it, he would destroy the whole Viraat kingdom, but he did not want that, because he knew the consequences of this action - they would have to go again for 13-year exile. So he managed to keep Arjun away from these moments. He asked Uttar to keep Arjun away from him for a while.
Was this not an intelligent action of Yudhishthir?
(4) Yudhishthir Just Before the War
As all were ready to begin the war, Yudhishthir takes an action, out of his Dhaarmik behavior. He climbs down from his chariot and proceedes towards kaurav army. Everybody including his own brothers are stunned to see this as what action he was going to take? Was he going to surrender? But it is not so. He comes to Bheeshm Pitaamaha, Guru Drone and Kul Guru Kripaa undauntedly and asks their permission to fight with them and ask their blessings for victory. Only because of his humility and good behavior he was able to obtain this blessing from all of them.
Was Yudhishthir a fool to act like this?
Our scriptures say " Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha " and not Buddhi (those who protect Dharm are protected by their Dharm itself and not by intelligence)
Why did scriptures give priority to Dharm over everything else?
Because, if one follows Dharm, Intelligence automatically flashes rightly in his mind when needed.
Intelligence is to be used for mundane things in life, like to eat intelligently, to manipulate things intelligently etc, but if we attempt to use intelligence in spirituality it will be disastrous. For spirituality one's heart (not the physical one) is required, not the intelligence.
If only intelligent people are wise, how does one justify an argument in the case of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, who is illiterate, yet the wisest of all. He never studied Upanishad but could answer any question on Upanishad since he used his heart to seat the holy Mother and not intelligence.
Therefore, Dharm is supreme and those who follow Dharm will be guided by correct intelligence automatically. Yudhishthir was undoubtedly Dharm personified, that is why he was intelligent enough to bring back his brothers to life and get the Lord's help at all times in his life.
Now who is a fool? Yudhishthir or those who call Yudhishthir a fool?
Before the Kuru Kshetra battle, Lord Krishn removed the ego of Bheem and Arjun - of Bheem through Hanumaan and the python (Nahush) and of Arjun by Kiraat and delivering him the Geetopadesh (Geetaa) that all the enemies are already slain by Krishn Himself before even the war occurred.
BUT THERE WAS NOTHING TO REMOVE FROM YUDHISHTHIR.
Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)