Anger - desires

Anger

I’ve received mails/calls from few of you saying you’ve started doing reiki that I start taking classes once again.  It was really touching.  No – not because I saw something as affection for me in that act of yours! No! What was touching is that “You are taking pro-active step towards fulfilment of your desire and that is what I’ve been trying to teach all these years.

Someone argued with me saying “Do you think they like you ? they want you for their personal benefit.”  I replied “Doesn’t matter – still if they are doing reiki to fulfill their desire – I don’t need anything else! My job’s almost done!”

Now, how can it be good even if the intentions is not just or valid? Remember, as long as we are mortals and haven’t realized “Self” we’ll  be driven by desires – rising ten to a score every minute.  Even fulfillment of one's desire will give rise to birth of scores of desires. For eg: the moment we are married, one wish is fulfilled – that of getting married.  Yet it gives rise to scores of other desires. 

Ø Wanting to keep spouse happy..

Ø Fear of losing affection of spouse…

Ø Wanting to raise a family…

Ø Wanting to pamper spouse and children with materials like gold, assets, cell-phones and such material riches…

Ø Wanting the child /spouse to behave in a certain fashion….

Ø And many such desires crop up and the list is never ending …….

...contd....

Anger, hatred and love

"How can i tolerate a person/persons who are against my wish/desire? How can i behave normally with them? How do I handle my hatred towards them because of the way they condition me and my life?" a very normal question and oft asked one.....

giving below are few links ...please read them all and still if you feel, you didn't get the answer...i'll answer it differently.....

related posts :

Friday, August 7, 2009

Wednesday, April 14, 2012

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Monday, March 12, 2012

notice

i hope pradyumna your question reg. draupadi is clear?

Draupadi in Mahabharata

...contd....

My word -

What is said in previous post is not my opinion but is very clearly told in our Shashtras....and explained with relevant stories, anecdotes and supported with various theories and reasons.....it's a fact - a man is as successful as he keeps his wife happy.....there is a saying in couple of upanishads too!  a house which sees the tears of the lady of the house is never prosperous and the man is a failure with regards to his swadharma!

I know I gave much more than just Mahabharat - but if you wanted only anecdotes, then you can get it in any story-book - but then it would just be a story of Pandavas and Kauravas for you!  No. It is not the story of some long forgotten characters.  It is the story of our lives - good and bad of our lives and their various forms, conduct and repercussions of such acts and conducts.  We can learn how to be and how not to be too!  We can seek to know what to do with what not to do in one place! That's Mahabharat for you.

Every phrase of Mahabharat oozes with knowledge of inner and outer Management - inner - our inner self and outer- our relation with one and all in our world!  And people say it can be read after 60-70 years of age!

Mahabharat teaches/shows you to lead a meaningful, successful yet righteous way of life - of what use is this knowledge if one has completed 60-70 years of one's life?

Read it now.  Let it bring light and clarity in your life, peace in your life, satisfaction in your heart and Dharma in your every act.

And read it with this know-how and with this perception.......

and the best in your this endeavour....

Draupadi - Mahabharata

...contd....

There is also a lesson for every husband that a woman who's hurt them - may keep quite herself but his act and that of his family and his inaction/action will only bring about destruction of their entire family - for sure!  People may say "But, my family members are very rich and successful - that means we didnot hurt my wife?"

Really? You've understood it this way?  More gold means - more "kali" is in your lives - and just look at the quality of their attitude!

I am sure it's irreparable!  Look at their lives - where is "Peace" and "love" - Two most important measures of success in one's life.  Then listen to their talks - bitterness, hatred and vengence - only negative at it's peak - and you say they are rich and successful!  They are paying the price with their character, attitudes and state of mind and this can't even be purchased or acquired or donated by someone!

It means, they are going to be poor in their areas for sure for very long time - may be for ever!

And even now, you don't think you need to right the wrong!  Seek forgiveness of the woman even on behalf of your family!  Only her forgiveness can give you and your family peace of mind!

And woman, let go off your anger and hatred - yes, inspite of the fact that you have been wronged by your dear and near family members! Because, at the end it's your family - even your kids would carry the effect of your curse - is it worth it?  Do you really think your children need to pay the price for your hurt?

Forgive and move-on - otherwise, you anger can only bring about destruction - for generations to come!

...contd....

Draupadi - Mahabharata

....contd....

Every household where a daugher-in-law is insulted, taunted, demeaned in the name of "correcting her wrong", finding her flaws, pointing her inadequacies are playing the role of Duryodhan.  Every husband who doesn't stand-up for his wife when she is verbally disrobed - insulted in public is no better than Yudhistra who waged his wife in gambling.  Even here, husband is waging his wife's "name" and "character" against his "name" and "respect" and doesn't stand up against his family members who are tearing her apart.  He is no better than a fool who loses all in gamble.  He is a spine-less creature who doesn't invoke an ounce of respect from his wife for life - leave alone love!  Women can stand physical discomfort but can't forgive and forget a man who did not support her/ stand by her in times of need - especially when people are verbally killing her character, spirit and calling her names and fault-finding! That man is no man! No wealth in the world can undo the harm he has done by his inaction in such situations. 

Is not Duryodhan's disrobing happening almost in every home even today? When?  When a person of family says "She doesn't do this....she said that..." stories....

So, this "Vastrapaharanam" is happening to even women who are as pure as Draupadi and as responsible as her in their duties as wife/mother et others! There is a message for every such woman here!

Don't trust your husband - a mortal like you to protect your character, your spirit and don't expect him to safe guard your honour.  Instead rest your faith in the divine and if "you are right" they may disrobe you as much as they can/want, still you'll remain pure and protected by his shield. 

...contd....

Draupadi - Mahabharata

...contd....


Now, the same story applies to "doing evil" also unfortunately.  The evil longs to give more and more pain to one and all as days pass bye!  That's exactly what happened with Duryodhan.  His evil intent touched and crossed it's limit and everyone else's too!

When water crosses the banks of river, it doesn't distinguish between righ-poor, good-bad, saint-sinner - it creates havoc and destroys all and sundry!

Like-wise, the evil when it crosses limit takes one and all in it's fold.  That's what happened with Draupadi.  She was caught in the flow of evil - of Duryodhan.  It had to do nothing with her karma.  She got caught.  That's all!

But the question here is - did the disrobing happen only to Draupadi - done by Duryodhan?  That is history!  Is it?

Every home where a woman is disrobed with words, taunts, physical abuse - "Vastrapaharam" is happening now and here - here and there and at every such place/home. 

Whenever in the name of dowry, the woman/daugher-in-law/wife is abused, the abuser is Duryodhan - be it her mother-in-law, father-in-law or her spouse!

Whenever a woman/girl is taunted for being girl, denied opportunity because of her sex - her parents, siblings - be it anyone who does it are Duryodhans insulting her, killing her spirit, demeaning her personality by not allowing her to choose in her life - be it career, hobbies, tastes, life-partner!

....contd....

Draupadi - Mahabharata

...contd......

Here, if we see it correctly - one could easily avert it if Duryodhan and such evil-minded people and their acts are nibbed at bud.  But, we let it go in the initial stages - the typical "Jaane do" attitude.  If he had been punished rightly as a kid when he tried to kill Bheem with poison or several other times when his character was too obvious for others to ignore - things wouldn't have gone so bad.

But, when bad goes unchecked, it thinks it is unstoppable, gains arrogance and becomes worst day-by-day and ends up committing worst and worst crimes.  Take a pause and go through lives of Raavan, Kamsa, Duryodhan or any Asura - same story!  So, as a part of society, it is our duty to check the wrong when we notice it first time "A stitch in time does save nine".  That's the less for us here!

Second lesson is we cannot afford to give power to the evil, ignorant and avaracious and let them take decisions, while we blindly follow right path!  It is not enough to be right! "Wrong also should be made right or also right would be wronged!" as it happened with the Pandavas.  Fighting evil and stopping it's growth is "also part of being good."

Third lesson is every act - be it good or bad with every repitition becomes more and more potent and increases in it's intensity.  For eg: - take a desire to do go.  It starts by getting up in bus to give your seat to a old lady.  That day, the joy that you get propels you to do it more often and then you search for excuses to do such related acts so that you get your share of "feeling good" joy.  Then, comes a time when this joy looks like a normal level and you to experience that "feel good" joy think and then do charity of Rs.10,000/-.  Then, this joy propels you to do more of such acts till it no longer feels special.  You increase the dose of doing good to experience that joy and the story gathers movementum and doesn't stop till all that you can think is do good, good and more good with your every act and so you therefore live a 24/7 life of doing good and that too or maximum degree.  That means good with repetition becomes more and more powerful good and increases it's intensity. Clear?

...contd....

Draupadi - Mahabharata

...contd....

Likewise, Sita was great yet was abducted by Ravana.  Rama was great yet he was banished from kingdom.  Krishna was called names by Shakuni, Shishupala, Jarasandh and others.

Understand this point, please for once and for all! Greatness of this people doesnot lie in the miracles that they performed  or that they experienced miracles. Their greatness also doesn't lie in the fact thata they lead a peaceful and tension-free life because of their (good!) character or their geatness.  Infact, the struggles in their lives is much more than a normal human.  Then, why are they great?  Because, even in those tough situations, they did not compromise with their principles, integrity, character and stood by "Dharma".  They are great not because of "what happened in their lives" but because of their way of dealing with those situations and their attitude during those situations.  Their choices make them great.  Each one of us have choices to make in our lives - but the choice we make are 1. either out of compulsion - i.e., we don't find an alternative course 2. because of fear - fear of bad name, society, of losing something dear to us 3. because of our likes and dislikes - i.e., basically our emotions and desires / passions make decisions for us.  We end up making "easier of the lost options available to us".  But to walk on the path of Dharma is to make the most tough decision and the path is also very tough and testing.  Our weakness takes hold over our senses and we give in.  Whereas, these great people are ready to sacrifice every comfort, everything dear to them - why even ready to lay their lives for the sake of walking the right path.  That makes them "Great".

We all want to be recognised as "Great" but are we ready to pay the price for it is the big question....

Coming to Draupadi, she wasn't disrobed because of her negative karma - no! Because she was so pure and her husbands were the only ones so strong who could put an end to the "Adharma" reigning in those days in the form of Duryodhan, Shakuni, Shishupala et others.  But, Pandavas being so good would never wage war for their selfish motive.  The reason had to be beyond the acceptance of even saints and Gods for such "good" people to take up weapons.  So, this incident had to happen!

...contd......

Draupadi - Mahabharata

contd.....

Still nothing much has been discussed about Draupadi's life - yet we learnt so much!  So much is open to correction within us and in our perception and we ask why Draupadi is considered great?  She is ultimate of womanhood - who stood as a pillar of strength inspite of testing conditions - all through her life.  Yet, she didn't let go of her 'Dharma' of being woman.  She fulfilled each role the exact way as was expected by Dharma.  She didnot let her likes an dislike play havoc with her feelings and decisions! She is jewel among woman!

If she was so great a woman, why was she disrobed publicly? What's the benefit of being pure if that couldn't stop the event from happening? What karma of her's brought her this situation to face in her life?

Good question.  But to understand the answer, become calm from within and be open to listening with emptiness.  Empty the brain off that clutter of logical explanations that is confusing you...Greatness has got nothing to do with how others treat you.  You are great for yourself.  No where, I remember telling you or anyone that if you are great, 'Everyone' will respect you, listen to you and like/love you.  No scripture in any religion will also say that! No - never!

Great men and women are great because they live what they preach or believe in - not because others like/love them or that they had easy life because of their greatness - no!

If one says "forgive the sinner who has hurt you" - immediate reply is "oh! easily said than done!" But Jesus forgave even people who crucified him and people who were responsible for his crucifixation and lived his message by saying "Lord! Forgive them for they know not what they do!"  on the cross before his death.

So, did Yudhistra many times forgive Duryodhan and his brothers for plotting against Pandavas.

...contd....

Draupadi - Mahabharata

...contd....

That doesn't mean we start hating ourselves or feel guilty that we are responsible for our fate and present situation.  Instead, like Draupadi we can learn to face it with intelligence, equanimity and poise.  The boon which easily could've taken her and her husbands into deep hell was converted intp tapas and having lived with restraint, self-control and understanding they (Pandavas and Draupadi) converted their curse or tough situation into a beneficial one.  They converted their situation into tapas and thereby stood as examples of Dharma for all times to come. How?

Simple - their relationship itself became tapas and they having lived it became Nitya tapavis".  When such a unique and tough situation can be converted into a reason to practice penance, why then we are suffering our issues so much that we are breaking from within?  Why are we hurting our 'Spirit' with pain and guilt that stems from anger?

Agreed we are not where we want to be!  We are with someone we don't want to be with!  We are not having what/whom we desire.  Yet, can't we convert our life/life situation itself into a sacrificial fire and feed it with purity, balance of body and mind and cheerfulness?

Each of our situations seems different but most difficult to the one who is living it.  Maybe it is too!  Agreed.  Yet, would we be/are we any better with all this bitterness, pain, anger, hopelessness, complaints and helplessness?  Sit and meditate.  Try to find a way to convert this 'unwanted situation' into a great reason to become and experience divinity within.  No, don't bother calling me/writing to me to ask 'how do I convert my situation into tapas?'  I can't answer for you.  It can be done - that's for sure! That much I can tell.  How? is the question you need to find an answer for yourself - because it is different for each one of us and it can unfold only to oneself - not to others -yes not even to their Guru!  So, sit and meditate and find an answer.....(all the best for that)

...contd.....

Draupadi - Mahabharata

...contd...

This goes to prove that any wish however illogical comes true and unfortunately as we would've forgotten that we asked for it - end up cursing our fate and God and envying others thinking they got more than what they deserve.  As in Draupadi's case it happened in her next life.

How many of our situations and people in our lives, we have asked for in previous lives - do we know that? do we remember that?  No, Nature has given us a great boon of forgetfulness.  So, we forget or don't remember our previous births and actions and end up crying and complaining.  If we "accept" that the present situation is just an effect and the cause is our own desire, then the list of our complains would be drastically reduced - nay completely done away with.  Maybe, we'll become more responsible with our desires, wishes and thought!

There is also another version to this story where Draupadi gives such a huge list of characters that she seeks in her spouse that Lord Shiva said "Granted.  But all these qualities can't be in a single man, but all the characters will be equally distributed in five men - those five men would be your five husbands!"

Whatever be the case, one thing is clear - "She received what she asked" - as I always say "Ask and it shall be given and then, suffer with your asking".  Our wishes are so illogical, paradoxical and confusing that we end up having our wish fulfilled in a way it pains us!

That's why I always request people never to comment on others situations saying "they got it because of their karma!" statement....never ever do it.... because as you can see Draupadi didn't want her wish fulfilled this way.  Likewise everyone gets as per his /her karma, but can we say what that karma is? May be, it is just a wish asked gone wrong...so avoid - yes avoid is the only action in these cases. Avoid commenting on others and their lives and lifestyle....

...contd....

Draupadi - Mahabharata

...contd.....

Though she was insulted by being disrobed in the court of Hastinapur publicly, she didnot let it break her.  She grew more strong after that incident.  Her purity protected her even then.  So, in more than one way, she was one the greatest woman of Aryavartha. 

Now, the question is why did she have to get wedded to five husbands?

Draupadi in her previous birth was a daughter of Nala and Damayanti and was called Nalayani.  She was beautiful and she decided to do tapas and to seek boon from Lord Shiva for a suitable husband with qualities that she desired in him. Before sitting in tapas, she decided to say "Lord, please give me a husband" when Lord Shiva would appear in front of her.  She did tapas (severe penance) for many years and Lord Shiva when was sure of her bhakthi and when he was satisfied of her tapas appeared in front of her and said "Dear child, open your eyes.  I am happy with your tapas.  Seek the boon that you wish!"

Draupadi opened her eyes and Lo behold! there stood Lord Himself.  She couldn't contain herself and uttered "Please give me husband" five times.  Lord simply smiled and blessed her saying "So be it!"

Later when she realized, she was blessed to have five husbands, she pleased Lord Shiva to revoke the blessing and to grant her only one husband.

But, Lord made it very clear that once a boon is given it can't be taken back. But, as her plea was genuine and mistake unintentional, he would amend her boon and said that this boon would help her to being an important instrument to alter the course of time and in bringing about change in Yuga. He also said that it would be applicable to her next life when society would accept polyandry. She was also given a boon of regaining her virginity at the end of every year by entering the fire.  Hence she is called as 'Nitya Kanya' (eternal virgin). 

As you know, Kurukshetra was the end of Dwapara Yuga and Kaliyuga started thence.  In the greater plan of the Divine, we or our foolish erroneously asked wish also may become instrumental - the condition being that we are pure and seek wishes out of purity of intent -  Intent which is not tainted by lust, greed, ego, anger or envy.

....contd.....

Draupadi - Mahabharata

...contd....

Krishna was likewise called as :
Krishna - the dark one (because of his dark complexion)
Vaasudev - sone of Vaasudev
Dwaraka nath - resident / ruler of Dwaraka (inspite of being no king, he was accepted as the uncrowned king of Dwaraka by the entire Aryavartha.

Kunti was called as :
Kunti - daughter of King Kunti bhoj

Coming to Draupadi, it is difficult to live with one husband and to please him for a normal woman.  And here, we have one of the most powerful and strong woman - Draupadi not only satisfying all the five husbands as a wife (no, I don't mean physically here!) but they all equally loved and above all respected her.   Don't forget she was married to five most powerful men of her times!  Not one of her husbands did anything without discussing with her.  They never went against her wishes or likes.  They were very sensitive to her needs and were even afraid of hurting her.  Not that they were afraid of her - but they were so much concerned about not wanting to hurt her.  She was always the number one priority in their lives.  By many accounts we may even conclude that she was the only priority of their lives.

Though each of her husbands was wedded to other princess too - none of thier wives accompanied them to forest nor on their last journey to heaven (already discussed in one the the previous posts).

Draupadi was the only inseparable one from all her husbands.  Other wives stayed at their father's place except Subhadra - wife of Arjuna and even she stayed at Dwaraka for major portion of her life and didnot accompany Arjuna into forest during their vanvaas.

...contd.....

Draupadi - mahabharata

Draupadi in Mahabharat

One of the most prominent, powerful yet most abused character or rather one who bore most of the abuse in Mahabharata - and one of my favourite characters - is Draupadi.

King Drupada of Paanchaal Desh (kingdom) was defeated by his childhood friend Guru Dronacharya.  Guru Dronacharya waged war with Drupad to avenge his insult inflicted by Drupad when he went to visist him saying "King and a pauper like Brahmin Dron can never be friends." Dron couldn't digest it and hence taught Kuru Princes all the know-how of fighting and as Guru Dakshina (fees) asked them to bring Drupad as his war-prisoner.  Pandavas fulfilled his desire and paid their Guru Dakshina.

Now, King Drupad though was given half the kingdom by Guru Dron as a gesture of his friendship sought to seek his revenge.

This hatred in him forced him to perform a yagna seeking son who could avenge him.  Out of that Yagna (sacrificial fire) Kund came Dhristadyum - son of King Drupad and out of the same sacred fire came Draupadi - The pure one called "Yagna Seni" - Gift of Gods and born of fire.  As she was daughter of Drupad was called Draupadi - as was the tradition in those days.  People were given varous names denoting their parentage, quality and the palce of birth like :
Draupadi was called -
Yagna seni  - born of fire
Krishnaa     - the dark one (because of her dark complexion)
Paanchali - Princess of Paanchal (Paanchal was the name of her kingodom)

...contd....

Bhagavatam

Bhagavatam - an excuse to fall in love with Krishna....

And whatever mind continuously and repeatedly longs for, thinks about becomes, that thought comes to mind even at the time of death.  This is only about increasing the probability of chance of remembering God's name, form - but there is no guarantee of that though!

Gandhiji even when hit by a bullet uttered "Hey Ram" out of habit and regular sadhan at the time of death.

And as already explained the last thought decides the type of our birth in next life.....So, if we die with the Lord's name on lips we'll take life at a place which is condusive for our spiritual growth, thereby increasing our speed towards liberation from the cycle of life and death.

The more the mind sings the glory of His Name, the less thoughts about what she said or he didn't do - thereby are we not reducing our negative karma?  We are immediately blessed with peace of mind - thereby decreasing BP, tension, insomnia and a host of diseases relaated to our negative thinking which is proved by the medical world.

So read, listen - more and more about his glory, name, miracles performed by Krishna....and what better scripture to read that Bhagavatam for this purpose.....

This is the reason why one should read Bhagavatam and I hope you have understood how it benefits us....

The same explanation applies to Ramayana, Mahabharata, Devi Bhagavatam and such scriptures....

This in short is the back-drop of Bhagavatam - why it was narrated and what's the benefit of the same ......we'll read about the stories sometime later......

Bhagavatam - The story about the Wonderful

...contd....

Why are these qualities important?

Bhakthi - for eg: when you hear the story of Prahlada, you'll know that he had been thrown from the mountain and yet was saved by the Lord.  The moment you listen, if your mind questions the possibility, then the purpose of listening is lost.  Bhakthi is based on Trust and trust is beyond facts - not based on facts.  By connecting it in our life or some social situation, we are not being great - we are prooving that we lack bhakthi.  Does it mean if I believe blindly, then it'll happen to me?  No, because belief doesn't come by words or by uttering those words.  It stems from purity of intent.  It give  a courage beyond logic.  Remember, as long as there is fear in you, you lack Bhakthi because bhakthi stems from Trust.  Either one has fear or Trust - not both!

When you listen with bhakthi, then you see the glory and the love of the God.  But for that you should have "attention" to catch the qualities that a bhaktha is having and humility to accept that "I lack this quality".  Then, you should surrender to God seeking His Grace to develop those qualities and trust that he would bless us with the grace. 

Then instead of questioning the logic in the events, we'll see the areas to develop in us and qualities to drop too!

This, when repeatedly done, will drive us into "Sadhana Marga" - the path of practise and we'll sit in meditation, do pranayamam and homam along with hands-on Reiki.  We'll not seek material benefits or ask "how many malas japam should I do?" or "for how many days?"  as we'll know the answer as  "till His Grace descends?"  So, there is no time limit.We would be so drunk in His glory that we would be longing for only merger with Him!

Our mind has a greatest quality called "attachment".  It gets attached to anything and everything that is fed to it repeatedly.  And if it experiences some pleasure out of that attachment, then it longs for that object or experience more and more and thinks about and for it!  This weakness can become a bhaktha's or a sadhak's (practitioner) tool.  Feed it with the glories of Lord's beauty, His Love, His traits, His Grace, His miracles - and mind will have no choice but to be attached to it - for it longs for bliss!

...contd....

Bhagavatam - The Story of Krishna

...cond....

If karma can be healed, why it couldn't heal Parikshit's curse and save him from Takshak's  bite?

After having heard the glory of Lord, that too from none less than Sukha Brahma, the soul would want to reach the Lord at the earliest - not want to save this perishable body from some untoward event! So, Parikshit accepted his fate as a blessing and an excuse to drop this body and merge with the Lord!

"It means if I listen to Bhagavatam on Last seven days of my life, I'll be liberated right?"

"I need not listen to it now - I can wait till my end time and when it comes, I can listen to Bhagavatam - right?"

How senseless are these questions by themselves! (yes, they are not imaginery but asked questions...)  Can you be sure of knowing the date of your death? is the question that I ask these people.  Then, when will you decide to read the sciptures?  Death can happen anytime.  Now, is also the time for death.  But, somehow, we don't seem to realize that!  That's the greatest lie we tell to ourselves and go on existing as if we had no end....It's a miracle!  And people want proof of miracle from me!  Seeing death all around us and still going on planning life for 100 years and more - is it not miracle? It is!

Well coming to Bhagavatam, hence reading, listening or talking about it NOW is the right thing to do.  If I listen, read once, I'll become immortal right?  No, it is not to do with the physicality of this Act.  First understand, why they say that listening/ reading Bhagavatam makes us immortal.  When you read / listen with total Bhakthi, Trust, Surrendrance, humility and attention we get to know the glory of the Lord.  Lord being Krishna here!   Remember, when listened with these five qualities - qualities being important.

...contd....

Bhagavatam

........contd....

King Parikshit when he came to know of his curse (didnot lament or become angry at sage's son) - instead he passed on his responsibilities to his son and went in search of Sage Sukha'Bhagavatam'rahma - who was The Great Sage Vyasa's son.  He was 'Brahma gyani' right from his childhood and hence was exponent in 'Brahma Gyan' - that is the knowledge of the eternal - the energy and the power that sustains the world.  Parikshit requested him to give him such knowledge that could redeem him from the bondage of life and death.  Sage Sukha Brahma agreed to do so and the discourse of 'Bhagavatam' - the story of the Lord Krishna's birth, growth and his leela's (miracles) started - for which great seers and sages and even Devas came to attend and listen to in rapt attention - non-stop for seven whole days and seven whole nights.  At the end of seven days, Takshak came, bite Parikshit and he died but having listened to Bhagavatam with total surrendrance he became one with the Lord (that is, he was liberated!)

If Parikshit died inspite of hearing ''Bhagavatam'' that too from one of the greatest Seers - Sage Sukha, how can we trust the saying "If one hears 'Bhagavatam' or reads it then he cuts the chords of death for once and for all!"

"How can our karma's accumulated through janmas be erased just by hearing or reading ''Bhagavatam''?"

These are the two questions usually asked at this juncture....

After having heard ''Bhagavatam'', one becomes immortal - it is true!  'Bhagavatam'ut the body that is born should die is also a Universal Law that can't be overseen - even by the Lord when he took avatar in human form - as Rama and Krishna.  When the work that had to be done by that avatar was over, it was dropped.  So, we cannot escape death.  Then what is this of becoming immortal?

When one dies, it is because of his karma and he again is born in the Yoni as applicable to his karma.  This way, one has to go through this cycle of life and death for aeons of years which is a torture for the soul.  But, one when hears ''Bhagavatam'' heals his karma and becomes liberated from this cycle and becomes one with the Lord on death.  This is called as 'becoming immortal'. 

...cond....

Bhagavatam - The Story of the Most Wonderful

contd....

Here, we can understand that however good a person is, hunger can drive him crazy and make him do crazy things - the consequences of which can be very dangerous and even life-threatening as in this case.  Therefore, it is imperative that we learn to control our hunger pangs on regular bais so that we've control over our body and senses.  This is one of the reasons as to why "Upavasamu" fasting as it is interpreted in English - is done.

(English or any foreign language for that matter is very limited and don't have words even near to the words in Sanskrit - mainly because that culture doesn't have these experiences and hence don't need words to describe them!)

Son of Sage also in a fit or anger - that stemmed out of deep attachment for his father cursed a great king like Parikshit - with death.  The Sage when he came to senses told his son as to what a great blunder he has committed by cursing Parikshit so!

Because, when a just and righteous kind dies, the whole kingdom loses a just king and anarchy reigns when he is not suitably replaced by the right and just king!  And there was no one to replace him then!

Doesn't that apply to present situation too?  Not being ruled by right and just leader?  But, the question is are we responsible towards selecting right candidate as our leader?

And so, he asked his son to amend his curse in such a way that some good comes out of this curse that would benefit the whole world.  His son agreed and did so and the result is 'Bhagavatam' was gifted to the world!

........contd....

Bhagavatam - The story of Lord Krishna

....contd.....

Why and how Bhagavatam was first told to King Pariskshit?

Coming to Bhagavatam, Abhimanyu was the son of Arjuna and Subhadra.  Subhadra was the sister of Lord Krishna.  That way Uttara was the daughter-in-law of Krishna's sister.  So, Uttara sought Lord's protection and pleaded him to protect her unborn child.  Krishna promised to do so.  So, when Ashwattama used 'Brahma-Astram" Lord Krishna entered Uttara's womb and became it's shield.  The foetus saw the glimpse of the Lord's form for a moment and remembered it even after taking birth and hence kept looking for the divine form in one and all and hence came to be called as "Parikshit" - "the one in search of Lord" - though he was originally called as "Vishnudatta" the one born because of Vishnu's grace.

He was humble, kind, just and a wonderful ruler liked and respected by one and all!  Once, when he had gone for hunting, he lot his way.  He was famished and went into the hut of a sage seeking food.  But, the sage was in deep meditation and didnot listen to his request for food.  Hunger clouded his senses and in his anger, he thought the sage was actually acting as if in meditation and hence put a dead snake around his neck.  When the sage didnot move inspite of this gross act, he came to his senses, sought his forgiveness and went his way.

The sage's son when he returned and saw the dead snake around his father's neck, found out what happened and cursd that Parikshit should die in seven days - being bitten by the snake Takshak. 

...contd....