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Showing posts from September 12, 2009


Mahabharata is not a tale of war — it is the tale of the futility of war – Dev Dutt Pattanaik

Critics of Mahabharata have always described it as a story of war and violence. But when a reader, who is not a slave of any ideology or –ism, closes the Mahabharat after completely reading it, realizes the futility of war and violence. He will take to the path of non-violence and this is what happened with King Janamejaya, who first heard the entire Mahabharata during the Snake Sacrifice from the mouth of Vyasa's student Vaisampayan. King Janamejaya, who was conducting the Snake Sacrifice (Sarpasatra) to kill all the snakes on the earth to avenge the killing of his Parikshit by Snake Takshaka, changed his mind after hearing the Mahabharata tale. But modern narrations of Mahabharat focus only on war. An aspect of Kali Yuga (the present age as per Hindu tradition), is that people will focus more on the negative aspects, which gives momentary pleasure. War, violence and victory provide momentary pleasure to the readers. Modern writers and interpreters are interested in t

Mahopanishad Quotes

The wise man is not depressed by adversity, just as the golden lotus which does not fade at the approach of night. He does not set his heart on anything beyond his immediate concern, and his delight lies in the path of the virtuous.  As alum clarifies water, so the nature of one who is enlightened becomes purified. Free from doubts, wickedness, inquisitiveness and delusion, his mind is perfectly integrated, and he shines like the full moon. The space between bondage and liberation measures 2 feet only. Bondage says ‘this is mine’ and liberation says ‘nothing is mine.’ Mahopanishad