In the previous episode, we had witnessed Yudishtra and Co. moving from the Dvaita Vanam area to the Kaamyaka Vanam, because of the reason that the animals residing there are dwindling in population. One night as Yudishtra goes off to sleep, the dead animals come in his dream and represent to him that in the name of hunting, all their lives are in great danger and if this continues unabated like this, many animals might face the threat of extinction. Paying heed to the animals’ request, Yudishtra decides that it is time for them to make a move from that place. Thus, they enter the Kaamyaka Vanam and set up their small hamlet there, amidst the dense forest area. As this happens, and as the Paandava brothers settle down at the Kaamyaka Vanam, Sage Vyaasa makes his way to meet all of them!
We’ve witnessed earlier too on many occasions wherein Sage Vyaasa came and met Yudishtra and Co. and provided them with his divine “Anugraha” and also with some important words of wisdom. Now too, as Yudishtra sits in one corner and starts thinking of the bitter past experiences, he feels ashamed of himself! Several questions run through his mind – How did he have the atrocity to stake his own wife and play the gambling game, even though he knew that he was on the losing side? How did he stake all his brothers and play the gambling game? How did he fall trap to Duryodhana’s wicked intentions? When Draupati was insulted publicly in the courtroom, how did he have the heart to keep quiet without objecting to Duryodhana’s heinous crime? As these thoughts run in Yudishtra’s mind constantly, he is in tears! He feels that he has somehow lost the plot! He feels that he has grossly deviated from the path of “Dharma” and is currently paying a heavy price for it!
As Yudishtra thinks all this, Sage Vyaasa enters! As Sage Vyaasa comes inside, Yudishtra is extremely surprised! He quickly gets up and immediately pays his respects to Sage Vyaasa, along with all his brothers and Draupati. Sage Vyaasa too acknowledges Yudishtra’s hospitality and respects and settles down for a small conversation. Sage Vyaasa immediately looks at Yudishtra’s face and spots that he is amidst a deep thought process. Normally, “Mahatmas” (Spiritual Masters) are extremely pure and clear in whatever they think and whatever they say, and Sage Vyaasa is no exception here! Normal people like us get extremely disturbed even if we’ve to undergo some small setbacks in our lives. We start brooding over our failure or setbacks to such an extent that we get into mental depression. Usually, mental depression occurs when our mind is unable to move forward from the setback that we’ve undergone. If our mind repeatedly keeps thinking about what had happened earlier and if it is unable to think of the future ahead, it becomes a huge problem for us, isn’t it? However, “Mahatmas” aren’t like that. Just like how we have setbacks in our lives, “Mahatmas” too have them – But the gross difference between them and us is that, while we keep brooding over the setback, Mahatmas surge forward with a clear and an open mind! This comes with an enormous amount of spiritual practice and deep penance. As we advance spiritually, our mind will become very pure and clear, which would enable us to surge forward even if any number of setbacks come and haunt us!
This is exactly what Yudishtra is undergoing here, and in fact, Yudishtra is lucky and fortunate to have Sage Vyaasa with him at this crucial juncture. Even for us, if we’re getting an opportunity to be around such Mahatmas or Spiritual Gurus, our minds will also get purified, because their minds are so pure and open! This is what is happening here – Upon sensing this, Sage Vyaasa asks Yudishtra thus, “Oh Yudishtra! I know you’re an epitome of “Dharma”. Please tell me what is running in your mind. Do you have any important questions pertaining to “Dharma” that you would like to ask me? If so, please ask me. I shall reply to the best of my knowledge! As Sage Vyaasa says thus, Yudishtra replies back, “Oh Sage Vyaasa! I’m extremely fortunate to be amidst your divine presence! Yes! I have an important question in my mind – Please explain to me – Is “Dhaanam” more significant in this world, or is “Tavam” (Penance) more significant? If you’ve to pick between these two divine aspects of “Dharma”, which one will you pick and why? Please explain in detail!”
Now this is an important question that Yudishtra is asking here and for this, Sage Vyaasa is going to give a very important and beautiful reply, which we shall wait till the next episode to witness! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 