Vedic Wisdom Talks

Good Vs Bad!   Rsi Lomasa arrived as sage Dhaumya was speaking to P āndavās about merits of visiting holy places. King Yudhisthira received him with great veneration & subsequently enquired about his purpose to come to kāmyakavana   Lomasa Rsi explained-In course of my wanderings, I came to abode of Indra. There, I was exceedingly surprised to see how Arjun was sitting on royal throne next to King of heaven. Indra then ordered me to come here & describe Arjun’s wonderful achievements. Not only has your brother received the best celestial weapons including Lord Sivā’s Brahmasira, but has also become a master in music & dance under guidance of Gandharva Citrasena   Indra’s message to you is-O son of Dharma! You can be rest assured that Arjun will soon return. However, you must first accomplish a great task on behalf of demigods, which even they are unable to perform. You should perform austerities & under my guidance visit the holy places of pilgrimage &...

  Engage! Pāndavās lamented about absence of Arjun & were extremely morose. At this moment Sage Nārada came Yudhisthira said to sage-As you’ve blessed us with your association, the opportunity to hear from you shouldn’t be missed. Pls describe to us merit attained by visiting various holy places of pilgrimage Sage said-Once Bhisma met with great sage Pulastya at source of Gangā & asked same question about potencies of tirthas. He said-To achieve merit by performing sacrifices, one must possess great wealth. But, just by travelling to holy places, even an impoverished man can accumulate tremendous pious credit, which is greater than even performance of sacrifices Pushkara ia a glorious tirtha, intimately connected to Lord Vishnu & is equal to 100 billion ordinary holy places. One who bathes its lake is immediately liberated from cycle of birth & death. One who simply recites glory of holy places or just visits them in imagination, also receives great rewards Prayāg i...

  Learned! All citizens of Nisāda kingdom were overjoyed once again to have their beloved ruler, King Nala. They greeted with folded hands & praised him as foremost of monarchs. They held a grand festival as their king escorted Damyanti & his two children back to kingdom. Nala again became the most illustrious amongst kings of Jambudvipa & ruled earth by performing numerous sacrifices and giving abundant charity to Brāhmanās Brhadāsava concluded his narration to Yudhisthira saying: Just like Nala, you’ll regain your rightful kingdom & thereafter live very happily along with your relatives. If we compare your exile with that of King Nala, we see that you’re in a far better position as your brothers & wife are with you. You also have association of Brāhmanās. Considering this why you should lament? After hearing the story of Nala & Damyanti, you should understand the futility of mere exertion as a means of counteracting the course of destiny. Since all living ...

  Impact!   As Nala & Damyanti were reunited, they recalled unbearable miseries forced to undergo. Thus, in 4 th year after loss of kingdom, Nala was once again with his wife & she blazed forth with great beauty and splendor, her anxieties dispelled & heart swelling with joy   Next morning King Nala, who was now dressed in royal garments, came with Damyanti & presented himself to King Bhima. He offered his obeisance to his father-in-law & King received him like a dear son. Throughout Kundina news spread & all citizens celebrated return of Nala. When King Rituparna learned that Bāhuka was actually Nala,he called for Nisāda hero begging forgiveness   Rituparna said: It is by good fortune that you’ve regained your wife after long separation. I hope I hadn’t mistreated or offended you in any way & if I committed any, please forgive me. Nala replied that he was very well treated & promised to teach him all he knew about managing horses ...

  Purity!   Damyanti said to Bāhuka: In what way I was guilty in the eyes of King Nala, making him think that it was alright to leave me alone & helpless in that desolate place? Why should he, who I had chosen above the chief demigods, abandon his loving wife & mother of his 2 children? In front of sacrificial fire & demigods, he had taken my hand & promised, I’m truly yours. Where was that sacred vow when he deserted me   The more Bāhuka (Nala) looked at his aggrieved wife, the more his heart softened towards her. Still he restrained his tears & replied-Neither the loss of kingdom nor deserting you in the forest were acts of my own volition. I was possessed by Kali & forced to act helplessly under his influence. Now I’m free. It is only for your sake I’ve done so   Nala said with disdain-Is there any chaste woman other than you who would forsake her devoted husband to marry again? At your father’s command, messengers have been tra...

  Recalibrate! Damyanti asked her servant Kesini to go to stables & silently observe Bāhuka for his behavior and report. Kesini went, observed & said upon her return: Never I’ve seen or heard about anyone having such control over nature When Bāhuka comes to a low passageway, he didn’t have to bend down, but doorway itself increased in height to let him go thro’. When he simply looks at pots, they're filled with water. When he holds a bunch of dry grass to sun, it immediately bursts to flame & during cooking even if he touches fire, he’s not slightly burnt. All his actions are so wonderful Damyanti hearing this said-I’ve already recovered my long-lost husband. She became convinced that Bāhuka is Nala, despite differences in bodily features. With tears of joy, she told Kesini: Go one more time & without Bāhuka’s knowledge bring me some food he prepares Kesini went & secretly took food that Bāhuka prepared. Damyanti had tasted what Nala cooked in past & after e...