Subtle & gross effects of our actions!

 

Due to Ambikā’s fault, Vyasā told his mother Satyavati, that the son born would be blind. On his mother request Vyāsadev agreed to beget another son. Satyavati approached Ambālika, who agreed & had expectations of receiving the affections of a powerful & handsome Kshatriya. Upon seeing Vyāsa unkempt appearance, she became pale with fright

 

Vyāsa told his mother that due to fault of Ambālika, the son would be born with a pale complexion & will be named Pāndu. Satyavati was still not satisfied & begged Vyāsa for one more child. Satyavati requested Ambikā, who was still thinking about Sage Vyāsa’s grim appearance. She asked her beautiful maid servant to take her place instead. The Sudrāni respectfully received Vyāsa & the sage was pleased by her amiable behavior. He informed her that she will beget a son who will be the most intelligent person on earth. His name would be Vidura. The son with the maidservant was actually Yamarāja, who was forced to take birth as a sudrā due to curse of sage Māndavya

 

Vyāsadev then left for the performance of his austerities. After the births of blind Dhritarāshtra, the pale Pāndu & intelligent Vidura, the Kuru kingdom remained under Bhishma’s rule & because it was so peaceful & prosperous, it appeared as if Satya-yuga had set in. People were so contended that the citizens of other kingdom gave up their homes & came to Hastināpur to live under Bhishma’s protection

 

Bhishma personally raised Vyāsadev’s 3 sons as if they were his own & due to his careful attention, they grew up to be very well educated in all fields of knowledge including morality. Pāndu excelled in archery, Dhritarāshtra distinguished in great personal strength & Vidura became famous as a man of virtue & wisdom

 

When they grew up, Pāndu was installed as King because Dhritarāshtra & Vidura were disqualified because of blindness & Sudra birth respectively

 

Our actions have long term reactions. They should be in accordance with scriptural guidance

 

Krsna says in BG 4,17

karmaṇo hy api boddhavyaṁ boddhavyaṁ ca vikarmaṇaḥ

akarmaṇaś ca boddhavyaṁ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ

 

The intricacies of action are very hard to understand. Therefore, one should know properly what action is, what forbidden action is and what inaction is

 

If one is serious about spiritual elevation, one must understand the distinctions between action, inaction and unauthorized actions. One must apply oneself to such an analysis of action, reaction and perverted actions because it is a very difficult subject matter. To understand action according to its modes, one has to learn one’s relationship with the Supreme as his eternal servitor. Any other conclusions against this consciousness and its attendant actions are vikarmas, or prohibited actions

 

If we don’t do this analysis, even the most intelligent persons will be bewildered with serious consequences

This applies well to our material actions as well

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife