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Wealth & Life! Maharaj Yudhisthira asked Bhisma: My dear Grandfather, how can one receive the mercy of the goddess of fortune & thus become prosperous in all regards? Bhisma replied by telling Yudhisthira how Rukmini once had the opportunity of meeting Laksmi-devi. She requested: O Goddess, kindly describe to me those persons in whom you dwell, as well as those who you avoid In the presence of Lord Krsna, Laksmi replied: My dear Rukmini, I always reside with those persons who are eloquent, active, attentive to their duties, free from anger, grateful, of controlled passions, worshipers of the Supreme Lord and the demigods, and are high-minded I never reside with atheists, thieves, those of impure habits, or those who speak harshly, are inattentive to their duties, beget unwanted children due to uncontrolled lust, are ungrateful, malicious toward their superiors, or become distressed over trifles & thus are always irritated and angry I reside with wives who are very...
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Actual reason! Maharaja Yudhisthira said to Bhisma: In spite of hearing your wonderful narrations, I am not able to give up my grief & attain peace of mind. How can mere theoretical instructions on the subject of spiritual elevation help me when I’ve already brought condemnation upon myself by becoming the cause of a great massacre? What could be more distressing than to see my grandfather lying on a bed of arrows as a consequence of my greed! How will I ever be able to become freed from the results of my grievous sins? Bhisma told a story: There was once an old lady named Gautami, who was noted for her great patience & mental satisfaction. One day Gautami's son died after being bitten by a snake. To please the ascetic lady, a bird hunter Arjunaka captured the snake. After binding it securely, the hunter brought it to Gautami & inquired: Pious lady, how should I kill this culprit? Gautami replied: Ignorant hunter, release the serpent! My son will not be brought ba...
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Future prosperity or destruction! Maharaj Yudhisthira enquired: What should a king intelligently do after losing all his prosperity? Bhisma replied: When one has fallen into a very distressed condition of life, being bereft of friends, relatives, wealth & reputation, he should practice fortitude & not give way to grief under any circumstances. Indulgence in grief destroys one’s personal beauty, duration of life, prosperity & virtue. One who constantly dwells upon his misfortune loses all enthusiasm, mental equilibrium & bodily strength & meets with total defeat in life Yudhisthira asked : By what symptoms can one ascertain future greatness or fall of a person? Bhisma said: The mind is the indicator of one’s future prosperity or degradation. In this connection I will tell you a story related to how Lakshmi had once come before Indra When Indra asked about the purpose of her visit, Lakshmi-devi said: Formerly I had dwelt with asuras because of their meritori...
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Most valuable & desirable thing! Maharaj Yudhisthira asked: Since time appears to destroy everything, what is it that should be sought after? Bhisma replied: Renunciation of desires for material gain is better than the cultivation of them. This wisdom should be sought at all times. I will tell you a story related to this There was once a man named Manki. Even after making numerous attempts to acquire wealth, he simply ended with disappointment. Finally with the little money he had, Manki purchased two young bulls & a yoke, and began training them how to Plow the fields One day after yoking his bulls, as Manki was leading them to the agricultural field, they came upon a camel lying in the middle of the road. Seeing the camel, the bulls became frightened. As they ran helter-skelter, the bulls fell down when the yoke got stuck in the camel’s neck. At this, the camel angrily got up & quickly ran away taking the young bulls with him When Manki saw the bulls dangling fr...
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True Friend & Supreme Duty! Maharaj Yudhisthira asked: Pls tell me about the nature of true friendship. It seems to be exceedingly rare that a friend is found who listens to good advice, and who always endeavours for one’s benefit. If such a true friend is acquired, I feel that he is more valuable than fabulous wealth & numerous relatives Bhisma replied: The following persons are unfit for being accepted as friends-one who is addicted to sinful life, one who is a slave of lust, one that denies the existence of God & one that has fallen from the duties of his social order. Also, those who are envious, idle, without compassion, crooked, suspicious, dishonest & untruthful are unfit to be accepted as true friends. All of these persons are ungrateful & so they ultimately become injurers of their friends. There are means of atonement for all kinds of sins, including the killing of a brahmana, but there is no expiation for an ungrateful person Yudhisthira asked: Pls ...
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Self-restraint! Maharaja Yudhisthira said to Bhisma after hearing the story about Sage Vishwamitra: I feel very disturbed after hearing how morality that is traditionally understood can be contradicted. It appears to me that thieves, dog-eaters & other sinful persons will try to justify their sinful activities by referring to such stories Bhisma said: The instructions on morality that I am delivering are not limited to mere repetition of sastric injunctions. What I am describing is the fruit of wisdom that has been harvested after a great deal of experience One cannot ascertain his duty in all circumstances simply by referring to rules & regulations of sastra. One has to be intelligent & wise, must possess a mature understanding of the subtleties of virtue, for sometimes so-called morality becomes immoral & vice-versa. Of course, the persons who altogether disregard sastra or find fault with it are no better than demons. Still, above & beyond the knowledge of ...
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Preserving Life! Maharaj Yudhisthira asked Bhisma: What is the duty of a Brahmana during a period of total irreligiosity, when thieves run rampant & anarchy prevails? Bhisma told a story in reply: Once, during the transitional period between the end of Treta & beginning of Dwapar Yuga, a frightful draught took place lasting 12 years. At that time there was not even a dew drop, what to speak of clouds in sky. The greatest rivers shrank to mere streams & all lakes & wells disappeared. Due to scarcity of water, entire earth appeared desolate. What to speak of others, even Brahmanas became so disturbed that they gave up the performance of their religious duties Agriculture & cow protection were completely abandoned. Heaps of bones were seen all over & shrill cries of carnivorous birds & beasts were all that could be heard. Elderly persons were forcibly thrown out of their houses. Towns were abandoned. Cows, goats, sheep & buffaloes fought with one anot...
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