Vedic Wisdom Talks

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 ...

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...

Trust your true friends! Maharaj Yudhisthira asked Bhisma: If a king always mistrusts others, how he will be able to get things accomplished? In reply Bhisma narrated a story: There was once a very wise female bird called Pujani, who lived in the palace of King Brahmadatta. Pujani gave birth to a male baby bird on the same day as the queen delivered a son. Pujani was very grateful for being able to live under king’s shelter & everyday she would go to the seashore & bring back two fruits-one for her son & other for little prince. The fruit was as nectar & greatly increases the strength of whoever ate it. Thus, the young prince became very powerful as he ate the fruit everyday which Pujani brought One day, while Pujani was away, the young prince saw her son. The boy began to play with the little bird, but due to his childish proclivities, as the prince held the baby in his hand, he squeezed out its very life When Pujani came home & saw that her son dead, she b...

No permanent friend or enemy (Part3) After sufficiently relishing the great relief & joy that one feels after finding that his life has ben saved from the jaws of death, the cat called the mouse, who was staying within his hole Lomasa said: My friend, why you ran away without even having the courtesy to exchange parting words? I hope you don’t suspiciously think that I have any evil intentions. Because our friendship has been firmly established, come out of your hole so that we can savour the sweetness of fraternal love. As you have saved my life, I remain eternally grateful & will worship you like my guru. From now on, pls consider my house & my possessions to be your own After hearing this, Palita, being well aware of his self-interest replied with similar sweet words: According to learned authorities, friends & enemies should be very carefully examined. To discriminate between the two requires acute intelligence. Sometimes friends appear to be more like enemies...

No permanent friend or enemy (Part2) The intelligent & eloquent cat had good foresight & said: Dear Palita, I wholeheartedly agree to become your true friend. Be assured that if you rescue me from this danger, I’ll not only save you from your present precarious position but will remain eternally grateful to you as well. I will serve you always just like a humble disciple Palita said: Here is my plan, I will squat underneath your belly. When my enemies depart out of frustration, I will eat thro’ the strings of the net to release you Lomasa said: Your idea is excellent. Pls come underneath me quickly. I assure you that I will never forget your help & will serve you till my last breath Hearing these flowery words, Palita came & crouched underneath the cat. Seeing this extraordinary turn of events, the mongoose & the owl were astonished & became hopeless of catching their prey and left disappointed. Thereafter Palita began cutting the net very slowly with hi...

No permanent friend or enemy Maharaj Yudhisthira asked Bhisma: Pls tell me what should be done when one is attacked not only by his enemies, but by those that are supposed to be his friends? Bhisma said: It is due to time & circumstances and nothing else that one becomes a friend or foe. A person who acts with this understanding by sometimes quarrelling with so-called friends & sometimes making peace with so-called enemies is far superior to one who can simply foresee danger or who has presence of mind. I will narrate a story to illustrate this There was a great banyan tree in a vast forest that was the resort of many animals. A wise mouse named Palita lived at the base of the tree in a hole that had 100 outlets. A cat named Lomasa lived in the branches & everyday he would devour many birds that came to the tree to rest One day a hunter arrived at the forest & made a cottage. Every evening, he spread his net beneath the banyan tree & returned home to sleep. ...