Introspection
A loooong time asince my last blog.
A lot of turbulence in the sea of life in that time.
Things that have led me back to my roots.....things that have made me ask myself who I am and what it is I want in life.
Things that have led me back to books that were my old favorites....Among them the Mahabharata. When I was in school, I used to love reading C.Rajagopalchari's concise edition for children. One of the passages I enjoyed reading the most was the part where Yudhishtira meets with a mysterious Yaksha (a demon) at a lake.
At the time, all 4 brothers of Yudhishtira have died, as they had come to the Yaksha's lake and tried to drink the water without answering the Yaksha's questions. Yudhishtira answers the questions posed by the Yaksha, who is so pleased by then that he raises all the dead Pandavas in return.
The questions posed the yaksha are timeless in its nature, and could well be asked to anyone today. I marvel at the author's understanding of the human mind - its fallacies and its greatnesses.
Here are the Yaksha's questions, and Yudhishtira's answers. I read, and I introspect.
Q:- By what, birth, behaviour, study, or learning does a person become a Brahmana?
A:-It is neither birth, nor study, nor learning, that is the cause of Brahmanahood, without doubt, it is behaviour that constitutes it. One's behaviour should always be well-guarded, especially by a Brahmana. He who maintains his conduct unimpaired, is never impaired himself. Professors and pupils, in fact, all who study the scriptures, if addicted to wicked habits, are to be regarded as illiterate wretches. He only is learned who performs his religious duties. He even that has studied the four Vedas is to be regarded as a wicked wretch if his conduct be not correct He only who performs the Agnihotra and has his senses under control, is called a Brahmana
Q :- What is it that makes the Sun rise? Who keeps him company? Who causes him to set? And in whom is he established?
A:- Brahma makes the Sun rise: the gods keep him company: Dharma causes him to set: and he is established in truth.
Q:-By what does one become learned? By what does he attain what is very great? How can one acquire intelligence?
A:- It is by the study of the Srutis that a person becomes learned; it is by ascetic austerities that one acquires what is very great and it is by serving the old that one becomes wise.
Q :- What constitutes the divinity of the Brahmanas? What even is their practice that is like that of the pious? What also is the human attribute of the Brahmanas? And what practice of theirs is like that of the impious?
A:- The study of the Vedas constitutes their divinity: their asceticism constitutes behaviour that is like that of the pious; their liability to death is their human attribute and slander is their impiety.
Q:- What institutes the divinity of the Kshatriyas? What even is their practice that is like that of the pious? What is their human attribute? And what practice of theirs is like that of the impious?
A:- Arrows and weapons are their divinity: celebration of sacrifices is that act which is like that of the pious: liability to fear is their human attribute; and refusal of protection is that act of theirs which is like that of the impious.
Q:- What is of the foremost value to those that cultivate? What is of the foremost value to those that sow? And what is of the foremost value to those that bring forth?'
A:-That which is of the foremost value to those that cultivate is rain: that of the foremost value to those that sow is seed: that of the foremost value to those that bring forth is offspring.
Q:- What is weightier than the earth itself? What is higher than the heavens? What is fleeter than the wind? And what is more numerous than grass?
A:- The mother is weightier than the earth; the father is higher than the heaven; the mind is fleeter than the wind; and our thoughts are more numerous than grass.
Q:- What is that which does not close its eyes while asleep? What is that which is without heart? And what is that which swells with its own impetus?'
A:- A fish does not close its eyes while asleep: a stone is without heart: and a river swells with its own impetus
Q:- Who is the friend of the exile? Who is the friend of the householder? Who is the friend of him that ails? And who is the friend of one about to die?
A:-The friend of the exile in a distant land is his companion, the friend of the householder is the wife; the friend of him that ails is the physician: and the friend of him about to die is charity.
Q:-'What is that which sojourns alone? What is the remedy against cold? And what is the largest field?'
A:-The sun sojourns alone : fire is the remedy against cold: and the Earth is the largest field.
Q:- What is the highest refuge of virtue? What of fame? What of heaven? And what, of happiness?'
A:-Liberality is the highest refuge of virtue: gift, of fame: truth, of heaven: and good behaviour, of happiness.
Q:- What is the soul of man? Who is that friend bestowed on man by the gods? And what also is his chief refuge?
A:- The child is a man's soul: the wife is the friend bestowed on man by the gods and gift is his chief refuge.
Q:- What is the best of all laudable things? What is the most valuable of all his possessions? What is the best of all gains? And what is the best of all kinds of happiness?'
A:-The best of all laudable things is skill; the best of all possessions is knowledge: the best of all gains is health: and contentment is the best of all kinds of happiness.
Q:-What is the highest duty in the world? What is that virtue which always bears fruit? What is that which if controlled, does not lead to regret? And who are they with whom an alliance cannot break?
A:- The highest of duties is to refrain from injury: the rites ordained in the Three (Vedas) always bear fruit: the mind, if controlled, leads to no regret: and an alliance with the good never breaks
Q:- What is that which, if renounced, makes one agreeable? What is that which, if renounced, leads to no regret? What is that which, if renounced, makes one wealthy? And what is that which if renounced, makes one happy?
A:- Pride, if renounced, makes one agreeable; wrath, if renounced leads to no regret: desire, if renounced, makes one wealthy: and avarice, if renounced, makes one happy.'
Q:-For what does one give away to Brahmanas? For what to mimes and dancers? For what to servants? And for what to king?
A:- It is for religious merit that one gives away to Brahmanas: it is for fame that one gives away to mimes and dancers: it is for supporting them that one givesaway to servants: and it is for obtaining relief from fear that one gives to kings.
Q:- With what is the world enveloped? What is that owing to which a thing cannot discover itself? For what are friends forsaken? And for what doth one fail to go to heaven?
A:- The world is enveloped with darkness. Darkness does not permit a thing to show itself. It is from avarice that friends are forsaken. And it is connection with the world for which one fails to go to heaven.
Q:- For what may one be considered as dead? For what may a kingdom be considered as dead? For what may a Sraddha be considered as dead? And for what, a sacrifice?'
A:-For want of wealth may a man be regarded as dead. A kingdom for want of a king may be regarded as dead. A Sraddha that is performed with the aid of a priest that has no learning may be regarded as dead. And a sacrifice in which there are no gifts to Brahmanas is dead.
Q:-What has been said to be the sign of asceticism? And what is true restraint? What constitutes forgiveness. And what is shame?
A:- Staying in one's own religion is asceticism: the restraint of the mind is of all restraints the true one: forgiveness consists in enduring enmity; and shame, in withdrawing from all unworthy acts
Q: What is said to be knowledge? What, tranquillity? What constitutes mercy? And what has been called simplicity?
A:- True knowledge is that of Divinity. True tranquillity is that of the heart. Mercy consists in wishing happiness to all. And simplicity is equanimity of heart.
Q:-What enemy is invincible? What constitutes an incurable disease for man? What sort of a man is called honest and what dishonest?
A:- Anger is an invincible enemy. Covetousness constitutes an incurable disease. He is honest that desires the wellbeing of all creatures, and he is dishonest who is unmerciful.
Q:-'What is ignorance? And what is pride? What also is to be understood by idleness? And what has been spoken of as grief?
A:- True ignorance consists in not knowing one's duties. Idleness consists in not discharging one's duties, and ignorance in grief.
Q:- What has steadiness been said by the Rishis to be? And what, patience? What also is a real ablution? And what is charity?
A:- Steadiness consists in one's staying in one's own religion, and true patience consists in the subjugation of the senses. A true bath consists in washing the mind clean of all impurities, and charity consists in protecting all creatures.
Q:- What man should be regarded as learned, and who should be called an atheist? Who also is to be called ignorant? What is called desire and what are the sources of desire? And what is envy?
A:-He is to be called learned who knows his duties. An atheist is he who is ignorant and so also he is ignorant who is an atheist. Desire is due to objects of possession, and envy is nothing else than grief of heart.
Q:- What is pride, and what is hypocrisy? What is the grace of the gods, and what is wickedness?
A:-Stolid ignorance is pride. The setting up of a religious standard is hypocrisy. The grace of the gods is the fruit of our gifts, and wickedness consists in speaking ill of others.
Q:-What does one who speaks agreeable words gain? What does he gain who always acts with judgment? What does he gain that has many friends? And what he, that is devoted to virtue?
A:- He who speaks agreeable words becomes agreeable to all. He who acts with judgment obtains whatever he seeks. He that has many friends lives happily. And he that is devoted to virtue obtains a happy state.
Q:- What is most wonderful? What is the path? And what is the news?
A:-. Day after day countless creatures are dying, yet those that remain behind believe themselves to be immortal. What can be more wonderful than this?
Argument leads to no certain conclusion, the Srutis are different from one another; there is not even one Rishi whose opinion can be accepted by all; therefore, that alone is the path along which the great have trod.
This world full of ignorance is like a pan. The sun is fire,the days and nights are fuel. The months and the seasons constitute the wooden ladle. Time is the cook that is cooking all creatures in that pan (with such aids); this is the news.'
A lot of turbulence in the sea of life in that time.
Things that have led me back to my roots.....things that have made me ask myself who I am and what it is I want in life.
Things that have led me back to books that were my old favorites....Among them the Mahabharata. When I was in school, I used to love reading C.Rajagopalchari's concise edition for children. One of the passages I enjoyed reading the most was the part where Yudhishtira meets with a mysterious Yaksha (a demon) at a lake.
At the time, all 4 brothers of Yudhishtira have died, as they had come to the Yaksha's lake and tried to drink the water without answering the Yaksha's questions. Yudhishtira answers the questions posed by the Yaksha, who is so pleased by then that he raises all the dead Pandavas in return.
The questions posed the yaksha are timeless in its nature, and could well be asked to anyone today. I marvel at the author's understanding of the human mind - its fallacies and its greatnesses.
Here are the Yaksha's questions, and Yudhishtira's answers. I read, and I introspect.
Q:- By what, birth, behaviour, study, or learning does a person become a Brahmana?
A:-It is neither birth, nor study, nor learning, that is the cause of Brahmanahood, without doubt, it is behaviour that constitutes it. One's behaviour should always be well-guarded, especially by a Brahmana. He who maintains his conduct unimpaired, is never impaired himself. Professors and pupils, in fact, all who study the scriptures, if addicted to wicked habits, are to be regarded as illiterate wretches. He only is learned who performs his religious duties. He even that has studied the four Vedas is to be regarded as a wicked wretch if his conduct be not correct He only who performs the Agnihotra and has his senses under control, is called a Brahmana
Q :- What is it that makes the Sun rise? Who keeps him company? Who causes him to set? And in whom is he established?
A:- Brahma makes the Sun rise: the gods keep him company: Dharma causes him to set: and he is established in truth.
Q:-By what does one become learned? By what does he attain what is very great? How can one acquire intelligence?
A:- It is by the study of the Srutis that a person becomes learned; it is by ascetic austerities that one acquires what is very great and it is by serving the old that one becomes wise.
Q :- What constitutes the divinity of the Brahmanas? What even is their practice that is like that of the pious? What also is the human attribute of the Brahmanas? And what practice of theirs is like that of the impious?
A:- The study of the Vedas constitutes their divinity: their asceticism constitutes behaviour that is like that of the pious; their liability to death is their human attribute and slander is their impiety.
Q:- What institutes the divinity of the Kshatriyas? What even is their practice that is like that of the pious? What is their human attribute? And what practice of theirs is like that of the impious?
A:- Arrows and weapons are their divinity: celebration of sacrifices is that act which is like that of the pious: liability to fear is their human attribute; and refusal of protection is that act of theirs which is like that of the impious.
Q:- What is of the foremost value to those that cultivate? What is of the foremost value to those that sow? And what is of the foremost value to those that bring forth?'
A:-That which is of the foremost value to those that cultivate is rain: that of the foremost value to those that sow is seed: that of the foremost value to those that bring forth is offspring.
Q:- What is weightier than the earth itself? What is higher than the heavens? What is fleeter than the wind? And what is more numerous than grass?
A:- The mother is weightier than the earth; the father is higher than the heaven; the mind is fleeter than the wind; and our thoughts are more numerous than grass.
Q:- What is that which does not close its eyes while asleep? What is that which is without heart? And what is that which swells with its own impetus?'
A:- A fish does not close its eyes while asleep: a stone is without heart: and a river swells with its own impetus
Q:- Who is the friend of the exile? Who is the friend of the householder? Who is the friend of him that ails? And who is the friend of one about to die?
A:-The friend of the exile in a distant land is his companion, the friend of the householder is the wife; the friend of him that ails is the physician: and the friend of him about to die is charity.
Q:-'What is that which sojourns alone? What is the remedy against cold? And what is the largest field?'
A:-The sun sojourns alone : fire is the remedy against cold: and the Earth is the largest field.
Q:- What is the highest refuge of virtue? What of fame? What of heaven? And what, of happiness?'
A:-Liberality is the highest refuge of virtue: gift, of fame: truth, of heaven: and good behaviour, of happiness.
Q:- What is the soul of man? Who is that friend bestowed on man by the gods? And what also is his chief refuge?
A:- The child is a man's soul: the wife is the friend bestowed on man by the gods and gift is his chief refuge.
Q:- What is the best of all laudable things? What is the most valuable of all his possessions? What is the best of all gains? And what is the best of all kinds of happiness?'
A:-The best of all laudable things is skill; the best of all possessions is knowledge: the best of all gains is health: and contentment is the best of all kinds of happiness.
Q:-What is the highest duty in the world? What is that virtue which always bears fruit? What is that which if controlled, does not lead to regret? And who are they with whom an alliance cannot break?
A:- The highest of duties is to refrain from injury: the rites ordained in the Three (Vedas) always bear fruit: the mind, if controlled, leads to no regret: and an alliance with the good never breaks
Q:- What is that which, if renounced, makes one agreeable? What is that which, if renounced, leads to no regret? What is that which, if renounced, makes one wealthy? And what is that which if renounced, makes one happy?
A:- Pride, if renounced, makes one agreeable; wrath, if renounced leads to no regret: desire, if renounced, makes one wealthy: and avarice, if renounced, makes one happy.'
Q:-For what does one give away to Brahmanas? For what to mimes and dancers? For what to servants? And for what to king?
A:- It is for religious merit that one gives away to Brahmanas: it is for fame that one gives away to mimes and dancers: it is for supporting them that one givesaway to servants: and it is for obtaining relief from fear that one gives to kings.
Q:- With what is the world enveloped? What is that owing to which a thing cannot discover itself? For what are friends forsaken? And for what doth one fail to go to heaven?
A:- The world is enveloped with darkness. Darkness does not permit a thing to show itself. It is from avarice that friends are forsaken. And it is connection with the world for which one fails to go to heaven.
Q:- For what may one be considered as dead? For what may a kingdom be considered as dead? For what may a Sraddha be considered as dead? And for what, a sacrifice?'
A:-For want of wealth may a man be regarded as dead. A kingdom for want of a king may be regarded as dead. A Sraddha that is performed with the aid of a priest that has no learning may be regarded as dead. And a sacrifice in which there are no gifts to Brahmanas is dead.
Q:-What has been said to be the sign of asceticism? And what is true restraint? What constitutes forgiveness. And what is shame?
A:- Staying in one's own religion is asceticism: the restraint of the mind is of all restraints the true one: forgiveness consists in enduring enmity; and shame, in withdrawing from all unworthy acts
Q: What is said to be knowledge? What, tranquillity? What constitutes mercy? And what has been called simplicity?
A:- True knowledge is that of Divinity. True tranquillity is that of the heart. Mercy consists in wishing happiness to all. And simplicity is equanimity of heart.
Q:-What enemy is invincible? What constitutes an incurable disease for man? What sort of a man is called honest and what dishonest?
A:- Anger is an invincible enemy. Covetousness constitutes an incurable disease. He is honest that desires the wellbeing of all creatures, and he is dishonest who is unmerciful.
Q:-'What is ignorance? And what is pride? What also is to be understood by idleness? And what has been spoken of as grief?
A:- True ignorance consists in not knowing one's duties. Idleness consists in not discharging one's duties, and ignorance in grief.
Q:- What has steadiness been said by the Rishis to be? And what, patience? What also is a real ablution? And what is charity?
A:- Steadiness consists in one's staying in one's own religion, and true patience consists in the subjugation of the senses. A true bath consists in washing the mind clean of all impurities, and charity consists in protecting all creatures.
Q:- What man should be regarded as learned, and who should be called an atheist? Who also is to be called ignorant? What is called desire and what are the sources of desire? And what is envy?
A:-He is to be called learned who knows his duties. An atheist is he who is ignorant and so also he is ignorant who is an atheist. Desire is due to objects of possession, and envy is nothing else than grief of heart.
Q:- What is pride, and what is hypocrisy? What is the grace of the gods, and what is wickedness?
A:-Stolid ignorance is pride. The setting up of a religious standard is hypocrisy. The grace of the gods is the fruit of our gifts, and wickedness consists in speaking ill of others.
Q:-What does one who speaks agreeable words gain? What does he gain who always acts with judgment? What does he gain that has many friends? And what he, that is devoted to virtue?
A:- He who speaks agreeable words becomes agreeable to all. He who acts with judgment obtains whatever he seeks. He that has many friends lives happily. And he that is devoted to virtue obtains a happy state.
Q:- What is most wonderful? What is the path? And what is the news?
A:-. Day after day countless creatures are dying, yet those that remain behind believe themselves to be immortal. What can be more wonderful than this?
Argument leads to no certain conclusion, the Srutis are different from one another; there is not even one Rishi whose opinion can be accepted by all; therefore, that alone is the path along which the great have trod.
This world full of ignorance is like a pan. The sun is fire,the days and nights are fuel. The months and the seasons constitute the wooden ladle. Time is the cook that is cooking all creatures in that pan (with such aids); this is the news.'
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