Teachings of Sage Nārada
 
The assembly hall & built by Maya Dānava was wonderfully constructed & refreshing to behold. It was exceedingly intricate in design & opulent in decoration. Gorgeous paintings were placed all over, whose beauty astonished the beholder. The hall was protected by 8000 Rāksasas known as Kinkarās. After 14 months the building was finally completed & present to King Yudhisthira
 
The king immediately sent out invitations to 10000 Brāhmanās & after feeding them sumptuously, he entered the hall as musicians played & professional orators praised his achievements. In the assembly of his brothers, great sages & kings from other lands, Maharāja Yudhisthira sat upon royal throne & appeared like Lord Brahmā being waited upon by hosts of demigods
 
At this time Nārada muni, foremost of celestial sages, arrived at the assembly & as soon as he approached Yudhisthira offering his blessings, Pāndavās stood up to welcome him. He was given an exquisite throne to sit, his feet washed, offered Arghya & countless gifts. The sage is the foremost spiritual master of all branches of Vedic knowledge & is conversant with military science. He has unimpaired spiritual vision & is the knower of entire cosmic manifestations
 
After thus welcomed, Nārada muni began to pose a series of question to Maharāja Yudhisthira, just to teach him the duties of a king. He asked: O king!
 
1. Do you always take council of many wise & experienced men & never settle a matter simply by your own discretion?
2. Do you give your soldiers their salaries promptly, at the appointed time & never oppress them by withholding their rightful dues? It is one of the King’s greatest faults if he deprives his soldiers of their earnings, or supply their rations irregularly for this will certainly drive them to mutiny
3. Has any servant who has accomplished a difficult task on your behalf by employing his special abilities, been disappointed by you by you due to not receiving a little more respect, food & payment? Persons who possessed learning & humility should be amply rewarded with wealth & honor, according to their qualifications, for such persons are the most valuable members of human society
4. Are the wives & children of those men who have dedicated their lives to you or who’re suffering on your account, being properly supported
5. Are you equal towards all men & is everyone able to approach you without fear, as if you’re their mother or father?
6. Do you employ any person who are thieves, open to temptation, hostile or of minor age?
7. Are the works of agriculture, trade, cow protection & banking being carried out by honest men? This must be carefully insured, because the happiness of the people in general depends upon these activities
9. Are the women living in your kingdom being properly protected & consoled?
10. Do you keep yourself free from the 14 vices that are commonly found in kings-Atheism, Untruthfulness, Anger, Idleness, Restlessness of mind, taking advice of only one person, consulting unqualified person, abandoning of settled plans, divulgence of council, failure to accomplish projects & understanding of things without first giving them due considerations?
 
These are gems straight from the wisdom of Sri Nārada Muni, the most elevated spiritual master having potency to turn a normal being into the best of devotee like Dhruva Maharāja, Prahlāda Maharaja, Sage Vālmiki, Mrigāri and numerous others
 
We also can become one
 
Thoughts? #gameoflife


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