The Indian Dharma

In the previous episode, we had witnessed the continuation of the discussion on which is greater – “Tapas” or “Dhaanam”. Here, Sage Vyaasa is giving beautiful answers wherein he is explaining how “Dhaanam” combined with “Tapas” is an excellent path towards “Dharma”. He says that if we give something in “Dhaanam” to someone, we should never think of that material again in our entire life. If we’re giving something to someone in “Dhaanam”, we should completely detach ourselves from that material and should give it in such a way that from this minute onwards, this material is yours! This is very important and we’ve to take this opportunity to reflect upon ourselves as to whether we’re following this or not in our daily lives! Thus, a person who offers a “Dhaanam” of some material that he / she has earned out of hard work and effort with complete detachment, is equivalent of the “Devas” (Celestial beings). 

Moving on further thus, Sage Vyaasa is going to narrate a beautiful story to illustrate his point – He is going to narrate about someone by name “Mudgala”. Sage Vyaasa explains thus, “Oh Yudishtra! There was a person by name Mudgala, who put in hard work and effort to collect paddy from the agricultural fields every passing day, and once in every fifteen days, he would donate all the paddy that he had collected to the needy as “Dhaanam”. By doing so, this Mudgala attained the highest “Moksha” as well! Now isn’t this a great achievement and a noble way to reach “Moksha”?” Thus, the point here is very simple! Oh Yudishtra! It is not important as to what material you’re trying to offer as “Dhaanam”. It is more important as to how you are giving it. For instance, it is not necessary that you do a “Vasthra-Dhaanam” or “Svarna Dhaanam” (Donating gold) everytime. Even if it is a simple paddy, which is of no significance much, if you’re doing it whole-heartedly and with a lot of “Tapas”, this is more than enough to take you to the highest “Moksha”! Thus, your involvement, detachment and “Tapas” matters a lot, more than what you are giving! Of course, you are a great epitome of offering “Dhaanam” to people as a righteous king and I do not even need to talk about all this with you. However, since you had asked this question to me, I’m giving you an answer to the best of my knowledge!” 

Saying thus, Sage Vyaasa narrates the story of Mudgala. He says thus, “Oh Yudishtra! Once upon a time in the Kurukshetra-Desha, there was a person by name Mudgala. He was an epitome of “Sathyam” (Speaking the truth all the time) and also offering the “Dhaanam”. Even though Mudgala had a family – Wife and children, he would ensure that all of them are fed adequately, but he would consume food only once in fifteen days. He will fast for the entire “Parva Kaala” and consume food only during the end of the “Parva-Kaala”. By mentioning the phrase “Parva Kaalam”, I’m referring to the fifteen-day time period that is present between the “Amaavashya” (No-moon day) and the “Pournami” (Full-moon day). Hence, Mudgala will consume food only once in these fifteen days. This is because, the small amounts of paddy that he is collecting, will transform into a substantial amount for cooking food, only once in fifteen days. Now, we’ve to understand one thing here – Oh Yudishtra! When Mudgala gathers the paddy, it is not an ordinary process. He only gathers those paddy grains that are fallen on the ground without being taken by others. For instance, he would not touch those paddy grains that are being consumed even by ants or other living beings apart from humans. He would collect only those food grains that are spilled on the ground and those that aren’t being consumed by any other insect or animal. If he has to collect grains like this, we can imagine how much will he be able to collect per day! This is why it takes almost fifteen days for him to collect a substantial amount of food grains for a meal to be prepared. During this time, the entire family of Mudgala will be fasting and will not have any food! Mudgala’s wife was extremely co-operative in this, as she understood the noble intentions of her husband. Thus, she also participated actively in contributing to Mudgala’s path of “Dharma”!”

So for today, let us understand and appreciate Mudgala’s “Dharma” path and in the next episode we shall continue to witness what happened to Mudgala after this. Stay tuned for Sage Vyaasa’s interesting accord! 🙂 

In the previous episode, we had witnessed the continuation of Sage Vyaasa’s accord on “Dhaanam” vs. “Tapas”. We had witnessed how “Dhaanam” along with “Tapas” is the most significant aspect of “Dharma” in this world. In the meanwhile, we had also witnessed yesterday, the key difference between “Dhaanam” and “Prathyupakaaram”. If we donate something to someone out of gratitude to what he / she had done to us in the past, it is termed as “Prathyupakaaram” and this will not come under the category of “Dhaanam”. Readers should note this point very clearly. “Dhaanam” is something that you do to someone without having any expectation of any sorts. In this way, “Dhaanam” is also very different from the normal “Upakaaram” (Help) that we offer to someone out of concern. For instance, if someone is in a dire need of money for an unexpected expenditure and we’re helping them with the required money, we might be expecting that this person would give our money back at some point in time. This is an expectation with which we give money to someone. Thus, even though we’re doing this for a good cause and to save someone at a critical time, this would only come under “Upakaaram” and not “Dhaanam”. Thus, readers should understand very clearly here that “Dhaanam” means something that we do without any expectation from anyone. 

Thus, we can create an analogy for “Dhaanam” like this – Just like how a mother carefully nurtures her child without any expectation from it, and just like how a mother pours all her love and affection upon her child without expecting that the child will return the favour to her, if we perform the “Dhaanam” this way, it is of greater significance than “Tapas”. Moreover, all of us have this practice at home too – For instance if someone comes to our home in need of a good clothing and we’re getting an opportunity to do a “Vasthra-Dhaanam” (Donation of clothes to the needy), what we would do? We might immediately go to our wardrobe, open it, look at the huge heap of clothes that we have and start selecting them! If the clothes are brand new and expensive ones and if we had hand picked them carefully from the showroom, we would keep them aside for ourselves. As we do this one by one, we would select the most ordinary and the old ones that we’re not wearing anymore and these are the clothes we would give to the person as “Vasthra-Dhaanam”! Many of us have this practice, isn’t it? This is exactly what Sage Vyaasa strongly discourages us to do! This act of giving away only the old and ordinary clothes to the needy is not considered to be “Dhaanam”. Instead, Sage Vyaasa explains that whatever material we’ve earned out of our hard work and effort, and whatever material we would have brought for ourselves with a lot of choice and selection, we should be ready to give this material away to the needy and this is called real “Dhaanam”. Thus, Sage Vyaasa explains to Yudishtra that “Dhaanam” if it is done in this way, is more significant than the “Tapas”. 

Moreover, Sage Vyaasa also explains one important aspect of “Dhaanam” here. He says that if we give something in “Dhaanam” to someone, we should never think of that material again in our entire life. If we’re giving something to someone in “Dhaanam”, we should completely detach ourselves from that material and should give it in such a way that from this minute onwards, this material is yours! This is why we say as part of many rituals in our “Sanaatana Dharma” while giving some “Dhaanam” to Brahmins as:

“Braahmanaaya tubramaham sampradate! Idan namama!”

The phrase “Idan Namama” signifies this aspect of detaching ourselves completely from the material that we’re offering as “Dhaanam” to someone and this is exactly what Sage Vyaasa is talking about. Many of us in today’s context have a grudge after giving something to someone, don’t we? After giving something, we would think thus, “Oh! Perhaps this person doesn’t deserve this costly material. Maybe I should have given something cheaper than this! Why did I spend so much money on getting this item for a “Dhaanam”?” This is where many of us are going wrong! We should never have this attitude while giving “Dhaanam” to someone. We should always go for the most expensive items when we’re offering “Dhaanam” and this is what is equivalent to “Tapas”. Moreover, Sage Vyaasa explains clearly that such people who are detaching themselves completely from the material that they are offering, are equal to the Devas (Celestial Beings)! 

So for today, let us understand this point clearly and we shall wait till the next episode to continue this discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂 

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Sage Vyaasa explaining to Yudishtra as to how Dhaanam, combined with Tapas is extremely significant, and if we’re obtaining a “Dhaanam” from people who have this combination of characteristics in them, we can consider ourselves to be extremely fortunate. Thus, if a person is offering some material as “Dhaanam”, which is earned by him / her through immense “Tapas”, this is the greatest offering that one can do. Hence, Sage Vyaasa answers Yudishtra’s question by saying that “Dhaanam” is more significant than Tapas in this particular way. Now we shall continue this discussion further and witness certain important aspects pertaining to “Dhaanam”. 

Now we would have one question in our mind here – If someone is helping us at a time when we are in dire need, and at a later stage if we’re helping that same person again with something when he / she is in a dire need, can this be called “Dhaanam”? For instance, I’m having an urgent medical expense at my home and one of my friends is coming forward to bare that enormous medical cost at the dire time! After a few months or years, this same friend of mine is having an unexpected expenditure, for which I’m helping him back. I’m bearing his complete expenditure at this critical time of his. Can this be called “Dhaanam”? The answer is “No”! This phenomenon is called “Prathyupakaaram”. The word “Upakaaram” means help, which signifies the help that I had obtained from my friend earlier. Now I’m helping him back, which is called “Prathyupakaaram”. This cannot be equated to “Dhaanam”. The reason is very simple here – I’m immediately coming forward to help this person, just because he had helped me earlier. Maybe, if he wouldn’t have come forward to help me at that critical point in time, perhaps today when he is facing a difficulty, I may have refrained from going forward and helping him, isn’t it? Hence, this relationship of helping each other comes with some sort of an expectation from each other – If I help him today, he will help me tomorrow! However, when we’re offering a “Dhaanam”, we are offering something without any expectation from anyone! Whereas, “Prathyupakaaram” is something that comes out of expectation. This is where we’ve to understand the difference very clearly. “Dhaanam” comes without any expectation from anyone and “Prathyupakaaram” comes with fulfilment of an expectation earlier! 

Moreover, there is also a certain level of parameter that we need to satisfy when we’re offering a “Dhaanam”. We cannot offer something just like that and term it as “Dhaanam”. There is a designated place, designated time at which we’ve to perform the “Dhaanam”. Moreover, the person to whom we’re offering the “Dhaanam”, should also be a deserving candidate to obtain the “Dhaanam” from us. He / she should exhibit austerity to the highest level, be clean and tidy, should be strong in his / her spiritual practices everyday, etc. If we’re offering the “Dhaanam” to such people, only then it would bear the desired fruit. Else, it doesn’t! On the other hand, just because we’ve to give something to someone, can we equate giving a bribe to someone as a “Dhaanam”? Definitely not! When we’re giving a bribe, it again satisfies an expectation! We’re offering a bribe to someone because that person is expected to finish some task seamlessly for us without any hiccups. Again, the role of expectations comes in! Hence, we need to be very careful here! 

So for today, let us once again understand the significance of “Dhaanam” and let us also understand the rules and regulations pertaining to offering the “Dhaanam” to someone. We shall continue this discussion forward in the next episode as well! Stay tuned! 🙂

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Sage Vyaasa’s accord on how patience and perseverance are very important in the pursuit of “Dharma”. Sage Vyaasa advises Yudishtra and motivates him to continue his path without any blemish. He explains how there is always some amount of pain before success is achieved. Moreover, in line with what Sage Vyaasa is explaining, we’re also witnessing some excerpts from the Bhagawad Gita wherein Bhagawan is explaining how it is difficult to tame our body and how easy it is to tame our mind, when it comes to implementing a change. Bhagawan Krishna explains how it is very difficult to adjust our physical body to changing conditions, whereas it is quite easy to adjust our mind to accommodate any sort of mental and emotional changes. If there is a bad happening for instance, our mind knows how to move on with it, without brooding over that bad happening for years together! 

Moving on further thus, Bhagawan Krishna here emphasizes that changes that happen both in terms of the physical body as well as the mind should be welcomed and we should be open to it. We should be patient and enduring to change and this is exactly what Sage Vyaasa is explaining here, with regards to “Tapas”. Thus, the question comes – What is real “Tapas”? The answer to this is that, the level of perseverance and patience that one endures in his / her life to embrace changes in terms of physical body as well as our mind, is “Tapas”. “Tapas” is extremely significant and a person who endures “pairs” is considered to be a “Tapasvi”. Now what are these pairs? “Sukham” (Happiness) and “Dukham” (Sorrow) is a pair. Similarly, “Laabham” (Profit) and “Nashtam” (Loss) is a pair in business context. In similar lines, victory and loss are a pair. This list goes on endlessly. Thus, a person who is able to view both the elements in these pairs with equality is a great “Tapasvi”. 

As Sage Vyaasa answers thus, Yudishtra is still not convinced with the answer. He wants to listen to more descriptions from Sage Vyaasa. Yudishtra asks thus, “Oh Sage Vyaasa! I now understood how important “Tapas” is! However, I’ve heard many times from many experts that “Dhaanam” is more significant. How can this be? What do you understand by the term “Dhaanam”? How is “Dhaanam” and “Tapas” related with each other? Now tell me, which is significant? “Dhaanam” or “Tapas”? As Yudishtra asks thus, Sage Vyaasa quickly understands where Yudishtra is coming to! His question is of a very high level. Upon hearing Yudishtra’s question, Sage Vyaasa is extremely happy! He replies thus, “Oh Yudishtra! You’ve asked a very very important question here. Now let me reveal something to you – “Dhaanam” is more significant than “Tapas”! I shall justify the reason for it as well – Now, if a person exhibits extreme “Tapas” and earns a lot of material in his life, this material that he earns has enormous significance. This is because the material that he is earning is out of genuine nature and he is working hard to earn it. Hard work involves extreme “Tapas”, just like how you’re doing here. The material that this person is earning might be anything – It can be money, gold, coins, etc. If the earning comes via the legitimate way, obviously that person has put in a lot of effort! And this effort should of course be in the path of “Dharma”. If such is the case, the material that he earns has enormous significance. Now, if this person is donating his hard-earned material to someone who is in dire need, with all his love and affection, isn’t this “Dhaanam” more significant than the “Tapas” with which this person has earned the material? Hence, if we look at this angle, “Dhaanam” seems to be more significant than “Tapas”. Thus, if a person donates his hard-earned material to someone wholeheartedly, this is the best spiritual “Saadhana” that this person can perform in life!” Such is Sage Vyaasa’s beautiful reply to Yudishtra.  

However, we’ve to note one point here – When we’re offering the “Dhaanam”, there are certain important parameters that we need to satisfy here. For instance, the person who is obtaining the “Dhaanam” should be deserving for that. We shouldn’t just be giving things to anyone and everyone for the sake of doing the “Dhaanam”. We should donate only to those who are deserving candidates. For instance, giving a bribe is not a “Dhaanam”. I hope readers would understand what I’m trying to establish here. So for today, let us understand up to this point, and in the next episode, I shall continue this discussion forward to explain what are the various important parameters that we should consider while performing the “Dhaanam”. Stay tuned for an important accord! 🙂

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Sage Vyaasa giving an important answer to Yudishtra’s question as to which is more significant – “Tapas” or “Dhaanam”. Sage Vyaasa clearly explains how “Tapas” is extremely significant and how Yudishtra is currently undergoing “Tapas”. Thus, the word “Tapas” just doesn’t mean sitting in meditation for days and months together. It also signifies the experiences one undergoes at various situations – especially the suffering that one endures. However, even though one endures the suffering, the real question here is whether this person sticks to the path of “Dharma” or deviates from it for the sake of convenience. If the person is consistently sticking to the path of “Dharma” even during extreme suffering, this is real “Tapas”. Yudishtra is doing exactly this – Sage Vyaasa highlights how Yudishtra, even though he is experiencing enormous suffering, is consistent in his path towards “Dharma”. This is highly commendable and Sage Vyaasa motivates Yudishtra to continue this path further. Sage Vyaasa also reminds Yudishtra that there’s no success in life without pain and failures. Thus, whatever pain Yudishtra is experiencing today, are all learning lessons for a successful life tomorrow in the future. 

Moreover, if we taste success in life at any point in time, we should not jump up and down in infinite joy. We should maintain our calm and composure. Similarly, if we face an extreme difficulty in life, we should not lose our self confidence or take it to heart and brood over it. We should learn to take both success and failure equally. This is exactly what Aadhi Shankarachaarya states as “Anavasaadha” and “Anuddharsha”. This is also exactly what Bhagawan Krishna is also going to explain in the Bhagawad Gita in our later episodes, for which, all of us are eagerly waiting. Here, Sage Vyaasa gives a beautiful comparison to highlight this point further. He says thus, “Oh Yudishtra! Now let us see how a farmer who is doing agriculture is extremely patient – At a time when the monsoon rains come to a halt and when there is an assured supply of water to his agricultural field, he takes this opportunity to sow all the seeds and is eagerly awaiting the water supply. However, due to some natural calamity or technical difficulty, if the water is not supplied, what would happen? For instance, if there is a failure of monsoon rains and the entire place becomes affected by drought, the farmer might still try his luck to sow the seeds, patiently waiting for some source of water to knock on his door. If it fructifies, the crops are saved. However, if this doesn’t work, all the crops are destroyed owing to lack of water. Hence, this loss wreaks havoc in a farmer’s personal life and finances, isn’t it? But does the farmer lose hope? He will still await the next monsoon season and pray that there is copious rain in the coming months. The farmer waits patiently, doesn’t he? Similarly, we also have to wait till the right time comes. Just like how the farmer doesn’t lose heart when his crops do not yield the desired results, you should also not lose your heart just because Duryodhana and the others are behaving in the way that is not desirable to you. Things will change. Just like how a good monsoon season would replenish all the water resources, a good time will come wherein your “Dharma” will also be established!”

This is a very important point that Sage Vyaasa is highlighting here. In similar lines, Bhagawan Krishna is also highlighting this point in a slightly different way in the “Bhagawad Gita. Even though we’re going to witness the Gita in a detailed fashion in the upcoming episodes (not very far off from here), just to suit this context, I shall only explain the meaning of the sloka, without going into it. Bhagawan explains to Arjuna thus, “Oh Arjuna! It is very difficult to impose a change into the physical body, whereas it is very easy to impose a change to our mind! Our mind is easily changeable, whereas our body is not!” As Bhagawan explains thus, Arjuna did not understand the head or tail of what He said! Bhagawan explains further thus, “Oh Arjuna! If we’ve to adjust our position of sitting or standing or walking or whatever, for our physical body, it is very difficult, as our body gets used to certain positions over time! However, with regards to our  mind, if for instance we do not like someone today, and if that someone changes his / her course of action tomorrow, we would again start liking that person, isn’t it? Similarly, if I have the perennial habit of lying to others, and if someone points it out at me and is trying to correct me, I shall always pay heed to that person’s advice and change myself, isn’t it? However, if I’ve to change certain habits pertaining to our physical body, is it very easy to do so? For instance, if I’ve to reduce my body weight, am I able to do it right away? I’ve to perform various physical exercises to reduce my weight and it takes a lot of time doesn’t it? For instance, if I’ve to reduce my number of hours of sleep, am I able to reduce it right from today? Even if for one day we get up very early in the morning for something important, we have that impact for the whole day, don’t we? Hence, it is difficult to change the routines that the physical body gets attached to, for a long time. However, it is quite easy for the mind to come out of a routine thought process!” 

So for today, let us think over and understand what Sage Vyaasa and Bhagawan Krishna are trying to explain here and let us see how these points are practically applicable to our daily lives as well! We shall wait till the next episode to continue this discussion further! 🙂 

In the previous episode, we witnessed the commencement of an interesting conversation between Yudishtra and Sage Vyaasa. As we’ve seen earlier, Yudishtra is somewhat getting depressed with whatever is happening around him, and his mind goes back to the past experiences and broods over them. At this moment, Sage Vyaasa enters inside Yudishtra’s home, in a bid to calm Yudishtra down. As Sage Vyaasa arrives, Yudishtra pays all the due respects to him and makes him feel comfortable. Now, Yudishtra asks a very important question here – Which is more significant? Is it “Dhaanam” or “Tapas”? Why? For this, Sage Vyaasa is going to give an important reply, which we’re going to witness in today’s episode. 

As Yudishtra asks this question, Sage Vyaasa replies thus, “Oh Yudishtra! Please understand one thing very clearly – Whatever you’re undergoing today is also one form of “Tapas” (Penance). I know that you’re undergoing something for which you’re no way under fault, however, please understand that this suffering that you’re undergoing today is a prelude for your victory tomorrow. Oh Yudishtra! There is no victory or success in life without any pain! Everyone who succeeds in life will have some sort of pain that they undergo. Success doesn’t come so easily. We need to have that endurance and patience to taste long-term success. If you’re not undergoing any sort of pain, and if you’re very happy in life, please understand that there will be some day where you’ll be experiencing some sort of pain. However, in your case, the situation is different. You’re experiencing this pain at a young age itself. Hence, your later part of life will be extremely happy and contented. Hence, please endure this pain with patience and do not worry. Of course, as you had asked, “Tapas” is extremely important and you’re currently undergoing this “Tapas” with a lot of endurance. Please continue exhibiting your “Dharma” meticulously and be patient.” 

Sage Vyaasa continues thus, “Oh Yudishtra! You’ve to learn one important thing in life – Whatever you experience in life – Be it success or failure or happiness or insult – Try to accept it calmly. Just because you’re succeeding and winning over someone or something, it does not mean that you will jump up and down with joy. At the same time, if you encounter a failure or unhappiness or insult, it doesn’t mean that you will sit in a corner and keep brooding over it. You should learn to treat success and failure, happiness and sorrow, appreciation and insult equally in the same plane! This is the key characteristic of a righteous king. Oh Yudishtra! Rather than brooding over what had happened to you earlier, please take this as an opportunity to learn some “Dharma” qualities. This will go a long way in shaping you up as a great king! You’ve to move from “Good” to “Great”, isn’t it? This is the way you move from one level to the other! Hence, even though you’re suffering at the moment, please do not come to a conclusion that everything is lost! You’ve not lost anything at all! You’re only gaining things every minute with your patience and perseverance!” 

Saying thus, Sage Vyaasa explains how “Tapas” is extremely important and how the “Tapas” that Yudishtra is undergoing currently is slowly and steadily shaping him up into a great and a righteous king! So for today, let us understand this point clearly and let us reflect this within ourselves – There is no success without pain! This is a very important point and let us realize this for ourselves as well! We shall wait till the next episode to continue this discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂 

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! 🙂 

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Duryodhana conducting the “Vaishnava-Satra Yaaga” and with this. He gained enormous happiness and satisfaction. He was mainly happy that he is finally able to match Yudishtra’s “Raaja-Suya Yaaga” in some way, even though he isn’t able to perform it at this moment. Thus, with this, we come to the end of the “Goshayatra Parva”, and we move on to the next important Parva which is the “Mriga-Svapnotthava Parva”. Here, as Yudishtra goes to bed one night, he has a dream – All the animals in the “Dvaita Vanam” is coming to Yudistra to seek justice. They had been unceremoniously killed in the name of hunting and other activities allied to it. The animals were actually in grief over the loss of their near and dear ones, and also were scared whether their population will become extinct in the “Dvaita Vanam”. Thus, the animals wanted Yudishtra to provide them some sort of justice. Thus, Yudishtra too decides that it is time for him to make a move on. He communicates this to Draupati and the others and the next day, all of them pack their bags and move to the next place – The “Kaamyaka Vanam”. 

Readers should recollect here that the mandate given to the Paandava brothers at the end of the gambling game is that, they’ve to reside in the forest for twelve years, and for the thirteenth year, they should be living in secrecy and should not be seen by anybody. This is called “Agnyaata-Vaasam”. If at all someone sees the Paandavas from the Hastinapura kingdom, they should once again go to the forest for the next twelve years and should spend one more year in the “Agnyaata-Vaasam”. Thus, the shift that we’re seeing here from the “Dvaita Vanam” to the “Kaamyaka Vanam” is happening well within the first twelve-year period only and hence, there is no need to worry about being seen by anybody at this point in time. Hence, Yudishtra decides to make a move from the “Dvaita Vanam” to the “Kaamyaka Vanam”, which is also an equally dense forest area. As Yudishtra and Co. reach the “Kaamyaka Vanam”, we come to the end of this small “Mriga-Svapnotthava Parva”. As we move on to the next Parva, we go into the “Vreehi-Draunika Parva”. The phrase “Vreehi” means paddy, and “Drauni” means an instrument that is used to measure the quantity of the paddy. 

As we move into this Parva, Sage Vyaasa enters into the scene once again! This is a time when Yudishtra is feeling extremely bad and depressed with all the suffering that he and his family are undergoing at the moment. He feels ashamed of himself as to why he opted to play the gambling game and why didn’t he stop playing that when he started losing everything that was under his possession. Yudishtra starts feeling upset that he had gone to that extent of losing even his beloved wife to the gamble and he feels deeply hurt because of the insult that he had to undergo in the hands of Duryodhana and Co. As Yudishtra keeps brooding over the past incidents, Sage Vyaasa enters in at that very moment. Normally people like us have this tendency – If we undergo some trials and tribulations in our life, we tend to get depressed mentally by thinking about it more often! We keep lamenting about it with many other people as well, and express our anguish. However, in this process, we fail to think of what should be done in the future to combat such suffering. This is where we need the help and guidance of “Mahatmas” and “Spiritual Masters”. They are people who are beyond all these feelings and suffering. They can clearly guide us on the way forward from here on. Their only focus is on “Dharma” and establishing it any cost. Thus, Yudishtra now has the golden opportunity to rejuvenate himself with some fresh inputs from Sage Vyaasa. 

So for today, let us understand up to this point, and we shall wait till the next episode to witness what conspired between Yudishtra and Sage Vyaasa! Stay tuned! 🙂 

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Duryodhana coming back to Hastinapura with a refreshed mood – Thanks to the Dhaanavas for their “Dhur-Bodhana” (Wrong advice & misguidance) that they had made to him! The King of the Dhaanavas had grossly misguided Duryodhana that he has all the qualities to pip Yudishtra quite easily and become the next king of Hastinapura. With this “Bodhana”, Duryodhana starts feeling overconfident from that very moment onwards! He returns back with a new rigour and proposes to all his mates, including the likes of Sahuni and the others, that he wants to perform a “Raaja-Suya Yaaga”, similar to the one that Yudishtra did when he was the king of Indraprastha. However, the Brahmin Pandits struck down that idea because Duryodhana wasn’t eligible to perform such a “Yaaga” at that point in time due to various reasons. Mainly, he wasn’t even a king of Hastinapura and moreover, how can he perform this Yaaga when his father is alive?  

However, the Brahmin Pandits gave him an alternative course of action. The Brahmin Pandits say thus, “Oh Duryodhana! Do not worry that you’re unable to do the “Raaja-Suya Yaaga” at the moment. Time will come, and we shall think of it at that moment. However, now, you can perform an equivalent “Vaishnava-Satra Yaaga” and prove your mettle to the world! Hence, please try and perform this Yaaga as a substitute to the “Raaja-Suya Yaaga”!” This sounds good for Duryodhana and Co. and they get ready for the same almost immediately! Thus, Duryodhana arranges for a grand “Yaaga” at Hastinapura and it takes place with a lot of grandeur. With this, Duryodhana and all the others surrounding him are extremely happy and satisfied! King Dhridarasshtra is also happy that Duryodhana is slowly gaining a lot of prominence in the power circles of the kingdom. With this, we come to the end of this “Goshayatra Parva”. We’ve seen how Duryodhana initially wanted to see Yudishtra and Co. suffering in the forest, thereafter pick up a war with them and finish them off. However, unfortunately as fate would have it, Duryodhana landed up in the hands of Chitrarasa and was almost beaten to death, only for Arjuna to come and save him. Filled with embarrassment, Duryodhana decided to commit suicide – Thanks to the Dhaanavas who saved him from it! Now, Duryodhana has regained that confidence by performing the “Vaishnava-Satra Yaaga” and he is back to his original form! 

Moving on further from here, we go into the next small Parva, which is nothing but the “Mriga-Svapnotthava Parva”. Now this is a sad Parva, wherein all the animals living around the “Dvaita Vanam” are feeling threatened. As the Paandava brothers are living in this “Dvaita Vanam”, they are catching one or two animals every passing day and killing them as part of their regular hunting exercise. As this continues further everyday, the population of these animals living there are coming down slowly. With this, the animals are worried about whether they will become extinct soon. Thus, one night when Yudishtra goes to sleep, all these dead animals come in Yudishtra’s dream and tell him thus, “Oh Yudishtra! You’re known for “Dharma” and “Righteousness”, isn’t it? Is it “Dharma” to kill all of us for no fault of ours? What mistake did we make to you? Why are we meeting a ghastly end to our lives? All of us are living in fear in this forest area, and with each animal passing away, the population of animals is coming down! Oh Yudishtra! Why are you people roaming around in the forest, which is our dwelling place? Why don’t you go back to your kingdom and live happily?” 

As the animals ask thus with tears in their eyes, Yudishtra replies back, “Oh! We never came here on our own! We were chased away from our kingdom and this is the reason we’re roaming around here! Anyway, now that you’ve raised your concern, we will assure you of no more troubles from our side. We shall vacate this “Dvaita Vanam” and move to a different place!” Saying thus, next day, Yudishtra and Co. move to the “Kaamyaka Vanam”! So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode, we shall witness what is going to happen in the “Kaamyaka Vanam”. Stay tuned! 🙂 

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Duryodhana making a firm decision to somehow put an end to his life, unable to bear the insult and humiliation he had to receive in the hands of Chitrasena and subsequently with Arjuna and the Paandava brothers. Since Arjuna had to come to his rescue, Duryodhana could not digest this fact, despite having great warriors like Karna and the others at his disposal. This leads to peak frustration, and Duryodhana goes away from everyone, only to be intercepted by the “Dhaanavas”, who did the “Dhur-Bodhana” (Instigating) to him in his dream. The Dhaanava king reiterated that Duryodhana has all the capabilities to be a great king and sort to misguide him on the path of “Adharma”. The logic behind the Dhaanavas doing this is very simple – If Duryodhana attempts a suicide and kills himself by chance, only one out of the hundred “Adharmic” people would die. The rest of the 99 would be alive and will continue to wreak havoc. If Duryodhana is alive, he himself will pave the way for the demise of all the other 99 brothers of his who walk the path of “Adharma”! Hence, the Dhaanavas wanted to keep Duryodhana alive at any cost! 

Moving on further thus, as Duryodhana wakes up again, he is completely rejuvenated! He gets that much required confidence and morale-booster from the Dhaanava king and with this, his jealousy and aggressiveness gain more traction. Thus, Duryodhana returns back to Hastinapura with a new vigour! As all of them return back after the futile forest visit, Duryodhana convenes a meeting with Sahuni and the others and proposes thus, “Oh Sahuni uncle! Oh Karna! Oh brothers! Now that Yudishtra and Co. are never going to return back to the kingdom for their entire life, I’m having a plan. Anyway, the Dhaanavas have confirmed to me that I’m going to be the next king of Hastinapura, I’m planning to perform the “Raaja-Suya Yaaga”, just like how Yudishtra performed a few years ago!  But this time, I’ll make sure that I perform the “Raaja-Suya Yaaga” in an even more grand fashion than what Yudishtra did! I request your cooperation for this. We need to take this opportunity to prove to the world that Duryodhana is a much better king as compared to Yudishtra!

As Duryodhana proposes this idea, Sahuni opines immediately – “Oh Duryodhana! Your proposal seems to be good! However, we need to check with the Brahmin pandits as to whether it is possible. Also, if it is possible, we need to look at ways and means of how to perform it!” Paying heed to Sahuni’s advice, Duryodhana and the others consult some highly scholared Brahmin pandits. The answer that Duryodhana obtains from them is quite shocking to him! The Brahmin pandits explain thus, “Oh Duryodhana! If you’ve to perform the Raaja-Suya Yaaga, you should first win over the kingdom which has an equal share with Yudishtra. Without making the kingdom completely yours, how will you perform the Yaaga? If Yudishtra performed it, he was already the king of Indraprastha, which was given to him by your father. But since you’ve not yet taken over the reins of the kingdom from your father as yet, you’re not even a king at the moment. If that is so, how will you perform the offering? Moreover, how can you do the “Raaja-Suya Yaaga” when your father is alive? Yudishtra performed it because his father is no more. Hence, it is not wise of you to compare yourself with Yudishtra blindly like this!”

As one of the Brahmin Pandits says thus, Duryodhana is getting confused! He fumes back thus, “Oh! If that is the case, can I never match Yudishtra in everything? Why is that all of you are taking so high of Yudishtra and are keeping me at one level below him every time? What is so special about that Yudishtra? Afterall he is a cheat and he is a coward in all aspects! He doesn’t even know how to be smart and win a game of gambling! If such is the case, how can he even be a king and manage the kingdom for a single day? His acumen of being a king is a complete zero. He does not have any iota of smart thinking! This is never going to happen! Hence, Oh Brahmin Pandits! I somehow want to prove to the world that I’m better than Yudishtra in the “Raaja-Suya Yaaga”, with which, I can declare to the world that I’m a “Chakravarthy” (Great King). Hence, rather than creating stumbling blocks like this, suggest some other ways through which I can somehow perform it!” 

So we can see here that Duryodhana is firm and adamant as usual! He is now boosted with the Dhaanvas’ words and this is also acting as a catalyst in Duryodhana’s arrogance! So for today, let us understand up to this point and we shall wait till the next episode to see what other alternatives do the Brahmin Pandits come up with for Duryodhana! Stay tuned! 🙂