Knowledge!

 

Indra & Agni restored Sibi’s body so that it became even more handsome. They also informed the king that a son named Kapataroman would be born from his right thigh

 

When Pāndavās came to place where Svetaketu had resided, Lomas Rsi narrated an interesting story-There was a sage named Uddalaka who had a very devoted disciple named Kāhodā. As a reward to his disciple’s long & selfless service, Uddalaka gave his daughter Sujāta in marriage as well as mastery of sastra to him

 

Sujāta became pregnant & one night as Kāhodā was reciting verses, the embryo within the womb said-By your grace I’ve become well-versed in Vedic literatures even while residing in my mother’s womb. However, I beg to inform you that with my acquired knowledge I can understand that your recitations are faulty. Kāhodā was surrounded by his disciples & being insulted in such a way became angry & cursed his unborn son-May you come out of your mother’s womb with a body that is crooked in 8 places

 

When the son was born, he was given a name Astāvakra (crooked in 8 parts). While Astāvakra was still in the womb, Sujāta said to Kāhodā that as they were poor, he should endeavor to acquire wealth. He travelled to the court of King Janaka & debated with a court scholar called Vandin. He lost & as per conditions was thrown into a river and drowned

 

When Uddalaka heard the news, he told his daughter to keep this a secret from her son after his birth. Thus, Astāvakra never heard about Kāhodā & considered Uddalaka as his real father & his son Svetaketu as brother

 

When the boy was 12 years old, Svetaketu told him that Uddalaka is not his father. Aggrieved Astāvakra went to his mother to ask about his real father. When he knew about Kāhodā & how he lost his life, he decided to go to the court of Janaka on a pretext of hearing the philosophical debate between Brāhmanās

 

Svetaketu also joined Astāvakra to King Janaka’s sacrificial arena but were refused entry as Vandin had laid down rule that only elderly learned Brahmans could be admitted. Astāvakra told guards that mere number of years that have passed since birth doesn’t constitute one’s real age. Wisdom & learning determine one’s maturity & thus even though I’m only 12 years old, I should be admitted into the arena. I want to debate with Vandin about nature of realization of absolute truth. Pls let me enter to defeat him

 

The guards allowed Astāvakra impressed by his speech to approach King Janaka. Coming before the King & glorifying him, Astāvakra said: I’ve come here to destroy Vandin with my arguments, just as Sun vanquishes the light of stars. Brāhmanās are always allowed passage, at all places & in all circumstances. Hence allow me to enter your assembly

 

Knowledge is Power but its power lies where? It doesn't lie in informational content which we may have but is the application of what we know. Knowledge needs to be applied to be power. Bookish knowledge without realization is useless

Especially for spiritual elevation, we can't understand transcendental nature of absolute Truth thro’ our materially contaminated senses. Only by spiritual saturation of transcendental service of Lord, we can understand him & He is revealed to us

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife