Vedic Wisdom Talks

Life lessons! Bhisma narrated a story to Maharaj Yudhisthira: There was once a sage living in a forest. He performed such austerities, living on only fruits & roots that he became highly purified at heart. He exhibited great kindness towards all living creatures & all forest animals approached him with an attitude of friendship-even the lions, tigers & elephants. Indeed, these ferocious animals acted just like the sage’s disciples A dog resided with the gentle sage & he was so devoted that he remained at his feet all the time. By sage’s good association, the dog exhibited gentle qualities & it performed austerities as well. Eventually the dog became very weak & skinny as a result One day a hungry leopard came to the sage’s asrama, hoping to eat the dog. Becoming exceedingly frightened, the dog begged his master to protect him. The Sage, with his mystic powers, transformed the dog into a leopard. Upon seeing the dog-turned leopard, the hungry leopard quietl...

The power of association! Yudhisthira asked Bhisma: How should a king act so as to become happy? Bhisma replied: One should not try to become happy simply by arranging life in such a way that all his necessities are achieved without much endeavour. Idleness is said to be one’s greatest enemy. On the other hand, one should not act feverishly or blindly. Everything should be done in a suitable manner. Because success ultimately depends upon utilizing one’s good intelligence, works that are accomplished by the brain are considered best. Work done by use of the arms is considered middling, work performed by use of feet is considered inferior, and work accomplished by carrying heavy loads is considered the lowest Yudhisthira enquired: How should a king behave towards an enemy more powerful than himself? Bhisma replied: Once the presiding deity of the ocean enquired from the deities of the rivers: O Goddesses, why is it that with your strong currents you bring to me many trees after ...