Vedic Wisdom Talks

Leading by example! As king Dasharath sat in a melancholy mood with his three principal queens absorbed in his thoughts, a messenger came telling him that his chief priest Vasishtha was now present in the assembly hall. Dasharath had been waiting for this news. He rose up and with the gait of a powerful lion went along the wide passageways, his long sword swinging at his side & his gold ornaments jangling as he walked   Near to the hall he was joined by his chief ministers. All of them were heroes who had been tried in battle, and all were learned and wise. The state ran smoothly under their expert administration. There were no citizens unemployed & no criminals left unchecked. The ministers were devoted to Dasharath’s service & as they walked, they considered the problem facing the king Flanked by his bodyguards & ministers, Dasharath entered his great hall. It vied in splendour with the assembly hall of Indra, the king of the gods. Massive marble pillars ros...

  Satisfaction is not in possession!   King Dasarath paced his palace balcony. Ina pensive mood he surveyed the scene around him. People thronged the inner courtyard below. Feudal kings & princes came with their retinues to pay tribute. From his seventh-story terrace, Dashrath could see much of his city Ayodhya, which stretched to the horizon in all directions. Crowds of citizens moved along the well-planned roads, which was interspersed with mango groves & orchards The broad central highway, built entirely of red stone, ran the full hundred-mile length of the city. Large white mansions lined that road, with many coloured pennants waving in the breeze on their roofs. The road was sprinkled with perfumed water & strewn with flowers. Above the city the king could see the golden airplanes of apsaras, the consorts of the gods Looking over his capital, Dasharath was plunged in an ocean of anguish. He entered the palace & walked slowly towards the inner chambers. As ...

Ideal leaders! As Ravan tried to lift mount Kailash, Lord Shiva stood up & pressed down the hill with his toe. Ravana at once felt an unbearable pressure. His arms, which resembled huge pillars holding the hill, were crushed. He let out a tremendous cry & trapped by the weight of the mountain could not move Ravana’s ministers at once advised him to appease Shiva–Offer him prayers & seek his compassion & He will be gracious to you. Ravan, who had studied all scriptures, began to sing hymns from Samaveda glorifying Shiva. But even after a hundred years had passed, he still remained trapped. Although in great pain, he continued offering prayers to Shiva Finally, the Lord relented & relieved Ravan of the pressure. He appeared before the demon & spoke kindly:O ten-headed one, your prayers have pleased me. Do not be so rash again. Leave now & go wherever you like Ravan bowed to the god, who stood holding his famous trident. The crescent moon showed from hi...