In the previous episode, we had witnessed that Shri Vishnu Puraana was a “Kaalakshema” between Sage Paraashara and his disciple, Sage Maithreya. In due course of the last episode, we had also witnessed the key difference between “Upanyasa” and “Kalakshema”. We had witnessed how many of our Sanaatana Dharma texts were born out of “Kalakshema” between great sages and kings. We’ve seen in our previous Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana project that it was a “Kalakshema” between Sage Sukhaachaarya and King Parikshit. Similarly, Mahabharata, the great epic (Ithihaasa) was born out of a great Kalakshema between Sage Vaishampayana and King Janame Jaya. In fact, if we look at the Bhagawad Gita too, it was a Kalakshema between Bhagawan Krishna and Arjuna. Thus, this was the practice of yesteryears wherein people used to listen to the words of elite scholars and sages, to enhance their knowledge and understanding of complex principles of the Vedanta. Thus, coming back to this context here, Sage Maithreya is asking truckloads of questions and Sage Paraashara is answering each of them. Basically, what is important here is that, we should have the innate interest within us to learn what is described in the Vedanta and how to put all these principles into practice. Obviously in today’s Kali Yuga we neither have Sage Paraashara with us to explain things in minute detail, nor Sage Maithreya to ask intricate questions to extract more and more answers. Thus, with whatever we have in our hands right now, it is upto us to develop that interest within us to learn and understand the contents of our Sanaatana Dharma. Obviously with the passage of time in this Kali Yuga, there would be “n” number of people who would try and challenge our Sanaatana Dharma and our faith. The important point here is that we shouldn’t get preturbed by all those malicious, baseless and false campaigns. We should remain steadfast in our belief and understanding and thus, overcome all such hurdles that might come through. We should have the resilience to stand by our Sanaatana Dharma, and to practice whatever Sage Paraashara, Sage Sukhaachaarya and Sage Veda Vyaasa repeatedly advise us upon.
Thus with this, we shall now commence the first “Amsa” and let us slowly start witnessing what is the content that is explained in it. The entire set of events commence from a point wherein Sage Paraashara is sitting on a river bank, one fine evening after finishing his daily “Nitya-Anushtaana”. Sage Maitreya approaches Sage Paraashara, who was at that time, meditating upon the supreme Brahman. Sage Maithreya wanted to ask something to Sage Paraashara, but he did not want to disturb his penance. However, he was still having some sort of an urge to ask something important to Sage Paraashara and thus, was patiently waiting for him to open his eyes. Luckily for Sage Maithreya, Sage Paraashara opens his eyes very soon, and looks at Sage Maithreya. As he was in deep penance till that moment, Sage Paraashara was also fresh and calm, and this prompted Sage Maithreya to ask what he intended to. Now let us witness the sloka and let us subsequently witness what did Sage Maithreya ask Sage Paraashara.
“Paraasharam munivaram krita pourvaanhikah kriyam!
Maitreyaha paripah pracchha pranipathya apivaaktyacha!!”
Thus, here we can see that Sage Maithreya is standing in front of Sage Paraashara with his head bowed down to the ground and with folded hands. He is very humble in front of Sage Paraashara as he asks the question. From this, we can understand how “humility” is very important for us to practice in front of “Mahatmas” or “Gurus”, whenever we’re going to ask them something. When we’re asking a question to a Guru or a Mahatma,, we should ask it with a mindset of learning the answer from them and thereby putting that answer into practice. We should never ask a question in such a way to test the Mahatma whether He / She knows the answer or not. We should have that surrender attitude while asking questions to Mahatmas and great people. Normally, we would see that if someone asks something to Mahatmas with this arrogant attitude within them, they would never give a reply and instead, walk off from that place. This is not because the “Mahatma” doesn’t know the answer for his question, but they wouldn’t waste their time in replying to crooks, who are coming and “testing” their knowledge and intelligence.
Thus, the point here is that, whenever we approach a “Mahatma” or a “Guru” for some spiritual understanding and knowledge, we should always be humble and with an open attitude to learn and practice whatever is going to be taught to us. So for today, let us learn this point on “humility” first, before going into the actual question that Sage Maithreya is going to ask Sage Paraashara. Thus, for today, let Sage Maithreya keep waiting with all his humility to ask Sage Paraashara the question. We shall wait till the next episode to witness the question and subsequently the answer from Sage Paraashara for it! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 