Intelligence!

Satyavati was striking beautiful & had highly virtuous character. But due to her contact with her fisherman father, her body always had a strong fish odor. She helped her father by ferrying passengers across Yamuna River

 

Once sage Parāsara came to the shore of Yamuna & seeing celestial beauty of Satyavati, was enchanted. As a reward of her service to sage, she was blessed with a pleasant fragrance of body instead of fish odor & was known as Yojanagandhā. As per divine arrangement, Satyavati became pregnant without losing her virginity & soon gave birth to a wonderful boy who matured in a short time

 

The boy’s mind was bent upon performing austerities & he took permission from his mother to leave. While departing he said-As soon as you would remember me, I’ll appear before you. Being born on an island, the boy was called Dvaipāyana & because he later compiled Vedas he was also known as Vyāsa

 

When demons were repeatedly defeated by demigods, they became deprived of their residence in heaven & so began taking birth on earth. They were born as sons of great Kshatriyas & were arrogant and proud of their great strength. These demoniac rulers oppressed ordinary citizens & also offended great sages

 

Presiding deity of earth, Bhumi, sought shelter from Brahmā & with tears in her eyes described her pitiable condition of being ruled by demoniac kings. Brahmā together with other demigods went to shore of milk ocean where Lord Vishnu resides on Svetādvipa. In answer to Brahmā’s prayers, the Lord assured them that he’ll soon incarnate to relieve burden of earth. He ordered demigods to assist him by taking human forms on earth

 

Some of those where-Hiranyakasipu as Sisupala, Samhlāda as Salya, Kālanemi as Kamsa, Brihaspati as Dronacharya, United portions of Siva Yama Kāma Krodha as Asvattāma, Maruts as Sātyaki Drupada & Kritvarma, Yamaraja as Vidura, Kali as Duryodhana, Dharma Vāyu Indra & twin Ashwini Kumaras as 5 Pāndavas, Agni as Dhrstadyumna, Sanat Kumar as Pradyumna, Laxmi as Rukmini, Indra’s wife Saci as Draupadi, Varcā-son of Soma as Abhimanyu etc

 

All demigods enthusiastically discussed amongst themselves, roles they would play while serving mission of the Supreme Lord. The seeds of the great war of Mahabharata was laid

 

We are all also asked to play our roles in bigger scheme of things. Some of us may decide to play our role perfectly while others may not have faith in the purpose and follow individual whims & fancies. The decision lies with us

 

There is a difference between intellect & intelligence. The capacity to process information including skills to ponder upon abstract concepts through reasoning is intellect. But the decision-making capability entirely depends upon good intelligence, which is more essential & important than intellect

This intelligence can be improved when we read wisdom texts like Gita & thereby understand the purpose of life & principles of living, making us sound decision makers

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife