Questions!
 
Sri Nārada further asked Maharāj Yudhisthira: Has your study of the ritualistic portions of the Vedas, your knowledge of the philosophical portions of scriptures, your acquisition of wealth & your married life proven fruitful?
 
Yudhisthira said-My dear sage, how can a person understand if these 4 things have borne fruit?
 
Sage replied-Study of the Vedas bears fruit when one performs abundant sacrifices. Knowledge of philosophical portions of scriptures bears fruit when it results in humility & good behavior. Wealth bears fruit when one enjoys it or gives in charity. A wife bears fruit when she renders service to her husband & produces children
 
Yudhisthira bowed his head to worship sage’s lotus feet & while doing so promised to act as he has been directed. The sage said-A King who passes his days earnestly protecting the four social orders (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya & Shudra), lives happily in this life & attains abode of Indra after death
 
Yudhisthira with great curiosity asked-O foremost sage! In course of your perpetual wanderings have you ever seen another assembly hall equal to or superior to this one built by Maya Dānava?
 
The sage smiled as if finding this question somewhat amusing & said-My dear King! I’ve certainly never seen such an opulent royal assembly hall upon earth. However, in other planetary systems there are far superior ones that I shall now describe
 
As Pāndavās became curios, sage said-The assembly hall of Indra named Puskarmālini was built by king of heaven himself. It is 150x100x5 yojanas in size & moves according to his will. Anyone who enters it finds that the influence of old age, grief & fear are immediately dispelled. When Indra sits upon his throne, he is surrounded by demigods & celestial sages, who worship him & await his commands. The Gandharvās & Apsaras are always in attendance to sing & dance for his pleasure & great saintly kings like Harischandrā are also present there
 
Assembly of Yamarāj was built by Visvakarmā & covers an area of more than 100 square yojanas. It is similar to Indra’s Hall in characteristics. Prominent kings like Yayāti, Nāhusa & Puru wait there for him. Sāntanu & Pāndu are also there. There are inestimable kings also present there
 
Assembly hall of Varuna has same dimensions as Yamarāj’s & is built by Visvakarma within water. The Nagas headed by Vāsuki wait upon Varuna in this pure white palace, as do the Daityās & Dānavas, headed by Bali Maharāj, son of Virocana. All oceans of sacred rivers reside in their personal forms there to serve the Lord of waters
 
Asking relevant question is an art which can give great insights & learnings. To see the big picture, ask big questions. In our lives, we also ask so many questions-to customers, friends, colleagues, juniors, etc. Our Vedic scriptures are also in the form of question and answers. Knowledge is transferred when an eager and inquisitive person humbly seeks answers from a resourceful and qualified teacher. A student is compared to a vessel, his humility is the empty space and eagerness the depth of the vessel. But if he has preconceived notions, then the vessel is full and cannot retain anymore.
 Do we ask clear, unambiguous questions? Do we listen & are inspired to give clear answers?
 
Thoughts? #gameoflife


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  Never Fall down!   Arjun released an Agni weapon that brightly lit up entire sky. Karna invoked a Varuna weapon that quenched the fire by creating clouds with a Vayavya weapon & then released a favourite weapon of Indra that made thousands of arrows issues forth from his G ā ndiva bow   While being pierced all over, Karna countered Aindra weapon with a Bh ārgava weapon & proceeded to kill many of the foremost Pāncāla warriors. Seeing this, Bhima’s anger blazed up like fire. He chastised his brother by saying: O Arjun, how can you allow these great warriors to be killed within your very sight? Please remember how Karna had insulted Draupadi? Give up your indifference & kill him without delay!   Sri Krsna said: Dear Arjun, you must exert your full prowess now, if need be, you can take help from my Sudarshan Cakra!   After momentarily considering the purpose of his appearance in this world, Arjun replied: Lord, with your permission as ...
Read more
Image
  Make or break!   When Salya agreed to drive Karna’s chariot only on condition that he must be allowed to speak freely whatever he likes, Duryodhana and Karna readily agreed & thus a contract was made. Duryodhana flattered Salya by comparing him to Lord Brahmā, who formerly became Shiva’s charioteer at the time of destroying Tripura   Duryodhana concluded his long talk by saying: Dear Salya, Parasurāma delivered the entire science of weapons to Karna. Therefore, we must intelligently conclude that Karna cannot really be a sutā’s son. He must be the offspring of a demigod born in a Kshatriya family & then abandoned at infancy. Otherwise, why would Parasurāma agreed to instruct him in the complete use of weapons?   Salya replied: I have heard on numerous occasions the story of how Lord Brahmā became Lord Siva’s charioteer. You should not place so much faith in your plans, because even if Arjun is killed, Sri Krsna will exterminate the entire Kaurav...
Read more
Image
Real compassion! Duryodhana who was hiding inside the lake, became very depressed hearing the bitter words from Yudhisthira, but since there was no alternative, he finally made up his mind to accept Yudhisthira’s challenge & fight. He said: I’m only one, whereas you Pandavas are many. Therefore, pls do not demand that I fight with all of you at once. Kindly allow me to combat you one at a time. In that way I will be able to kill all of you & thus repay the debt to the great warriors who died for my sake   Yudhisthira said: O Duryodhana. It is very commendable that you have accepted my challenge. Now you can choose whichever one of us you would like to fight with the choice of weapons will be yours. If you are able to kill any one of us Pandavas, you will be given back your kingdom. Otherwise, if we kill you, you will attain a heavenly destination   Duryodhana said: You have amply displayed your noble character by allowing me to fight against only one opponent...
Read more