Vedic Wisdom Talks

Execute your responsibility & do not imitate others! As Maharaj Yudhisthira was adamant on taking up the reins of the kingdom, Bhima, Nakula, Sahadev all gave arguments of how it is important for a Kshatriya to rule the earth virtuously, rather than to falsely renounce one’s duties   Arjun said: Dear brother, a king’s duties are considered to be highly sacred. When a Kshatriya kills an aggressor, it is not at all sinful, because violence is necessary for the upkeep of social order. Being unable to remain silent, Bhima interrupted by saying: You should rejoice now that our wicked enemies have been killed. Rule the kingdom with grandeur. Perform the asvamedha-yagna & give profuse charity to the brahmanas. In this way you’ll be able to give up your lamentation   Yudhisthira replied: Even though you may be ignorant of the higher principles of religion, it is still a fact that engagement in self-realization is far superior to acting righteously as a king. The Veda...

Real sacrifice! After concluding the funeral ceremonies, Pāndavās lamented & mourned about the great massacre on battlefield. Maharāj Yudhisthira specially was deeply anguished by the turn of events. Great sages including Nārada muni, Vyāsdev, Devala & Kānv came & tried to dispel the mental anguish of Yudhisthira by suitable instructions but as he felt a heavy and deep sorrow within the core of his heart, he was unable to dispel his grief   Yudhishthira said: In fact, my victory seems more like defeat, for all my relatives & friends have been killed, especially Abhimanyu and Karna. Kunti devi urged: Dear son! Pls don’t lament for Karna’s death. Both Surya & I had tried our best to persuade Karna to join the sides of his brothers, but we failed as he was determined to continue his hostility towards you, even after being informed his true identity. So, his death should not be lamented   In turn, Yudhisthira became angry with his mother because her s...

Revenge leads us nowhere! After listening to Vyāsdev’s words, Dhritrāshtra gave up the idea of committing suicide & further lamentation for his dead sons. On Vidura’s urging, he prepared to perform the funeral ceremonies for his deceased relatives at Kurukshetra   When Maharāj Yudhisthira learned that Dhritrāshtra had set out from Hastināpur, he went to meet him along with his brothers, Sri Krsna, Sātyaki & Draupadi. He came to the blind king & bowed down before him. Dhritrāshtra reluctantly picked him & embraced him   Actually, Dhritrāshtra was burning with rage, eagerly awaiting the chance to embrace Bhima-not out of affection, but with the desire to crush him to death. Understanding the old blind king’s wicked intention, Sri Krsna quickly came & dragged Bhima away. In an instant He put the iron statue of Bhima He had kept ready for this purpose next to the old king. Dhritrāshtra had the strength of ten thousand elephants. When he squeezed the i...

  The divine vision!   As Dhritrāshtra was lamenting, Vidura continued: Dear king! Just as a traveller has to make regular stops when he becomes tired, so the living entity traversing the path of material existence has to again & again take shelter within the wombs of different mothers. Because of this inconvenience, the wise person very carefully gives up lust, anger & greed. He restrains his senses & speaks only that which is truthful, so that he can escape the slaughtering process of repeated birth & death   Although Dhritrāshtra was listening, his mind continually dragged him back to the recollection of his miserable condition & he fainted. Vyāsdeva, Sanjay & Vidura rushed to pick him. They sprinkled water and fanned him. Dhritrāshtra regained his consciousness but proceeded to weep very bitterly for a long time. He suddenly exclaimed: I realize the intolerable condition of human existence & so will put an end to my life this very d...

Purpose of human form of life! Vidura narrated an allegory to his brother Dhritrāshtra: Once a Brahmana found himself in a dense forest teeming with beasts of prey. Being in a very dangerous situation, the brahmana fearfully ran here & there, seeking shelter. While trying to flee from the forest animals, he soon found that it was impossible to outdistance them. Besides that, the poor brahmana discovered that the entire forest was enclosed by a strong net, trapping him inside. All along the circumference of the net were five-hooded serpents that also blocked his exit There was a fearsome old woman with outstretched arms who constantly pursued him, crying out wait wait! The poor brahmana’s condition was certainly precarious While running here & there, the brahmana suddenly slipped into a deep pit that was covered by creepers. As he fell toward the bottom, he became entangled in those vines so that he remained hanging head downward in the pit, like a big jackfruit. F...