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STORY: DEVRAJ INDRA’S SERMON TO GREAT WARRIOR PRATARDAN

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    In the treasured mythological scriptures such as Purans and Upanishads, battles between the Devatas and Asuras have often been been described in great detail and on many occasions. Asuras, have always troubled Devatas for some reason or the other. In fact, they were mostly stronger than the Devatas in strength, and therefore Devatas were always scared of them. Even Devraj Indra who was extremely powerful and laced with a lot of divine offence could not harm them in any manner.

    A time came when Devraj Indra had had a prolonged spell of atma-gyaan (self enlightenment). And with that his power and inner strength had increased exponentially when he defeated the asuras big time. Thereafter, amongst all the Devatas he was rated supreme. He was awarded the kingdom of Swarglok (heaven) and the ownership of Tribhuvan (Three worlds—swarg, dharti and pataal). In this great battle he was assisted by Pratardan the great warrior son of King Divodas. The spiritual conversation below is between Devraj Indra and the warrior son Pratardan.

    With the help of powerful Pratardan, when Devraj Indra was able to forge a grand victory over the asuras he took Pratardan along with him to Swarglok. Impressed by his surreal warring prowess and supreme purusharth (bold human endeavour) Indra said—‘Pratardan! I am extremely happy with you, so tell me how do I bless you?’

    Pratardan humbly said—‘Devraj! Since you consider var (blessings) to be beneficial for human beings. I want, you only to present me with something that will be beneficial for me.’

    Indra replied—‘Rajan! Everyone is quite aware of the fact that no one, asks for a var for anyone else, because no one knows what the other person wants. So, you, only ask for something, for own yourself.’ Indra’s point of view sent Pratardan into a spin. But he recovered swiftly and said.

    ‘Then there is no blessings likely to come my way, and I shall always remain devoid of it. Because you won’t grant me one in accordance to what is good for me, and I wouldn’t know what to ask for myself?’

    But even after hearing Pratardan’s pungent plea. God Indra did not go back on his words, because he had vowed to grant him a var. And he was worried, as he was considered the epitome of truth. So, come what may, he had to award Pratardan with something, even when he had not asked for it.

    In the middle of all this Devraj Indra sermonised—‘Dear Pratardan! You need to know my real cosmic profile and configuration. For, that alone would be the most helpful var for mankind. If you so desire, you can ask what is so special in me that you should know in depth. Listen to what all I have, to understand what will be beneficial for you. I’ve established a permanent unison with Param-Brahma (supreme creator) so I don’t have the arrogance of a doer. My mind always stays steady and never deviates to nothingness. I never aspire for any karmafal (rewards for actions) and no particular work can confine me.

    It is said I killed the three-headed Wishwaroopa. Many pseudo sanyasis and sadhus who never followed the discipline of ashrams and who were away from bhramcharya (celibacy). I cut them into pieces and fed them to the wolves. So many a times I killed the daitya (asura) kings who troubled noble souls like Prahlad. Daanavas (a superior race of asuras) who gave pain to Pulopasur and other asuras residing in the planet such as Kalkhanj were also destroyed by me, after removing all obstacles that came in my way. While doing all of this, not a single pore of mine was damaged because, I was bereft from desire—karamfal. In the same manner a person who will endeavour to know me well, his punyalok (paradise) will never get derailed by any action of his.’

    Very attentively Pratardan kept listening to Devraj Indra. Indra further added—‘Pragyaswaroop (In enlightened form) I’m the pran—the breath of life. I am also the cumulative age of all prans and jeewanbhoot (past lives) put together. And that which is pran, and that which is without the fear of amritpad (state of immortality), is not separated from Indra. So age is pran and pran is age and pran is amrit. Only till the time pran resides in the body there is age. And from pragya (enlightened mind) alone a man decides on truth and finds alternatives in life. Those, whose age and amrit reveres Indra, they alone in this loka live to the fullest of their age and while moving to swarglok (heaven) drink ‘akshay amrit’ (Everlasting immortality).

    Responding to Indra’s sermon, Pratardan asked—‘Why is it that some intellectuals say, the holistic pran (breath of life) of a human body which includes all indriyas (literally means belonging to Indra, also means faculty and senses at work in a human body) work together in a well woven and synchronized manner and individually they cannot function. When the voice starts speaking, rest of the senses in the pran remain silent and approve of what the voice is saying. When eyes start seeing then other senses stand behind it and start watching. When ears start listening, all other senses too start listening. When mind starts thinking, all other senses also start thinking along with it. And finally when the lord & master—pran is at work other indriyas endeavour to work in tandem with it. Is this true?’

    Devraj Indra thought for a moment and said—‘yes, it is like that only. All prans put together are one but are still called by five names and without doubt are the form of ‘supreme bliss.’ I call it supreme bliss because one is dumb without voice, blind without eyes, deaf without ears and without a developed mind it is like a child or a simpleton. A man can survive even when his body parts are severed, but without pran he cannot survive even for a second. So, pran is the precursor for power and knowledge. Pran is the supreme God. In pran resides Parmatma (supreme-soul) whose darshan (occasion of seeing a holy person) is the ultimate in knowledge, and that alone is pragya .’

    Pragya and pran co-exist in a human body. But both leave the body after the person is dead. Without pragya even if pran is there, a person cannot register anything. Any business of mind cannot be transacted without pragya. Only knowing the voice is of little consequence, on the contrary the desire to know the inspirer of the voice which is the soul is of utmost importance. To know the indriyas or the subjects of indriyas alone, is not sufficient, what is important is to know about the adopter of these topics of indriyas, that is the soul.’

    Indra further enlightened Pratardan—‘In the manner, topics of indriyas are merely about the past. In the same manner sections of similar indriyas are related to pragya. If the past bit won’t be there even pragya bit will not be there. Out of the two (matter and indriyas) neither of the two, can survive alone in any form and obtain siddhi (supernatural powers). The essence of life therefore is from indriyas to matter and from matter to indriyas and that alone is considered the holy domain of life.

    The sense is, from indriyas you arrive at the subject matter and from subject matter one can figure out the power of indriyas. If there is only one subject matter that moves from the matter to the same matter one can’t derive knowledge. Also, a single indriya will not have the complete knowledge of other indriyas unless there is a subject matter. So both knowledge of the past and pragya are essentially needed for fusion of matter and indriyas.

    Here it is important to understand that between matter and indriyas there is disparity. But there is no disparity between matters of pragya and the past. Past pieces are lodged in pragya and pragya is well entrenched in pran, therefore: the pragyatma (enlightened soul) of a pran is its anandmai (fill of bliss) and is the supreme nectar of life (amrtimai). This pran and pragyaroop (enlightened form) of chetan parmatma (conscious soul—God) allows the person who is proud of his body to perform the duties of his sadhu dharm. For he is the ombudsman, he is the king of the lokas and he alone is supreme. And blessed with all these attributes and considering pran to be Parmatma (Supreme soul) residing in Nijatma (one’s own soul) it has obtained atma-gyan (self-enlightenment). And blessed with all these qualities one must consider pran to be the ultimate Parmatma or Nijatma and basis by which one can obtain the ultimate knowledge of the soul.’

    And impressed by Indra’s atmagyan (self-enlightenment) and sermons Pratardan was quite satisfied and he returned to earth and started spreading the sermons of Lord Indra that was extremely helpful for the mankind.

    From Brahma-upnishad

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Translated by Kamlesh Tripathi

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                                                       https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

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Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

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STORY: EVEN CURSE BECOMES A BLESSING: IF YOU DEFEND DHARMA (RIGHTEOUSNESS)

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arjun

arjun1

arjun2

    Pandavas were leading a tough life in forced exile somewhere deep in the forests. And as advised by sage Vyas. Arjun had left in search of isolation for a prolonged tapasya. Where, he was able to please lord Shiva. This was when Shiva presented him with his pashupatastra. Amid all of this Devraj Indra took Arjun in his chariot to Swarg Loka, where, he and other Lokpals of heaven, also presented their divyastra to Arjun for his final victory. With these divyastras, Arjun waged a war on asuras known as ‘Nivaatkavach.’ Whom, even, the Devatas were unable to defeat, and repeat attack by them had frustrated the Devatas. In the war that followed. Arjun finally defeated them. They could not withstand the powerful attack from the renowned Gandeev dhanush of Arjun and they ran towards paatal (hell) to save themselves.

    After defeating these asuras when Arjun returned to Amravati all the Devatas welcomed him in a grand fashion. The assembly of Devraj Indra was decorated and he along with Arjun sat on the throne. The Gandharvas picked up their veenas to sing. The beautiful Apsaras of swarg one by one started dancing to the melodious tunes of the Gandharvas. Devraj at any cost wanted to please Arjun. He was therefore, very intently noticing Arjun just to find out what was attracting him.

    Arjun was now residing in heaven. The one and only one heaven, that was majestically decorated. The apsaras were busy dancing and while dancing they wanted to attract and cajole the favourite guests of Devraj Indra. After each dance representative of Devraj used to introduce another apsara and in this manner the assembly swung into a band of melodies. But Arjun, in whose honour all this was being done was quietly sitting with his head down and eyes staring at the ground. And while the grand show in heaven was in progress. He was only remembering his exiled brothers who were living in extreme austerity by eating fruits and roots and by sleeping on the ground. He was therefore not at all attracted towards Amravati.

    Suddenly, Devraj Indra uttered the name of Urvashi. Arjun looked at Urvashi several times, who was dancing in the assembly. Devraj Indra noticed Arjun, while he was looking at Urvashi. After the celebrations got over. Devraj called Gandharva Raj Chitrasen and said—‘go across to Urvashi and tell her. Tonight she needs to spend with Arjun. He is one of our most loved ones and she should make him happy.

    Urvashi herself was attracted towards Arjun, and therefore when she received the message of Devraj she willingly accepted the same. She then decorated herself as much as she could to look ravishing. In the night after decking up. She reached the residence of Arjun.

    When Arjun saw Urvashi he got up from his bed. With both hands he offered his pranam and said—‘Mata! what brings you here at this time? And what can I do for you?

    Urvashi was astounded in the manner Arjun had addressed her—as mother. She minced no words. When, she clearly said, she was attracted towards him, as if in love and that she had also received a message from Devraj to make him happy. She prayed to Arjun to accept her. But Arjun with a stable mind said—‘please don’t say these unbecoming words again. You are the mother of kurukul (Kauravas). I have heard this from many rishis. Today in the sabha when the pratihari called your name, I felt like seeing you. Considering, you as the mother of my kul. I several times, glimpsed your feet. I feel this is what led to some misunderstanding in Devraj’s mind.

    Urvashi says—‘Parth! This is not earth. This is heaven. We apsaras are neither any ones mother, nor sister nor wife. Anyone coming to heaven as per his punya can benefit from us. So you please accede to my request.’

    In the middle of a romantic night the most beautiful apsara of the heaven was incessantly requesting Arjun to accept her. But Dharmyug Arjun was adamant, where Kamdev could not even touch him. Arjun, with folded hands continued praying to Urvashi—‘just as Kunti is my mother, just as Madri is my mother, in the same manner I consider you like my mother. Kindly consider me as your son and shower your affection.’

    Urvashi never expected this kind of a treatment even from the rishis who led a life of extreme austerity. So this was least expected of Arjun. In all of this she felt as if her beauty had been insulted. She then in the lust of love cursed Arjun—‘like an impotent man you did not accept my request. Therefore, for a year you’ll live as a hijra, where, you’ll only sing and dance amidst women.’

    After cursing Arjun, Urvashi left. Arjun too had the power to curse her, especially, when she had cursed him wrongly. But even then Arjun was looking down with his hands folded as a mark of respect, conveying his pranam.

    In the morning Devraj came to know what had transpired during the night. He was happy and said—‘Dhananjay! People who follow the righteous path are never surrounded by calamites. And even if calamity strikes it turns into a lucky mascot. The curse of Urvashi will be for only a man year, after which it will turn into a blessing when after exile you enter a year of anonymity where no will recognise you.’

GLOSSARY

Tapasya–intense meditation and austerity

Pashupatastra–Shiva’s destructible weapon

Swarg Loka–Heaven

Lokpals–Caretakers

Divyastra–Weapons of God

Asuras–Demons

Devatas–Gods

Gandeev Dhanush–Arjun’s famous bow

Paatal–Hell

Amravati–Abode of the deathless

Gandharvas–Melodious singers of heaven

Veenas–Stringed instrument

Apsaras–Beauties of heaven

Pranam–Greetings

Mata–Mother

Rishis–Sages

Sabha–Assembly

Pratihari–Chamberlain

Kul–Lineage

Parth–Nam given to Arjun (An archer who never misses his targets)

Punya–Collective virtues

Dharmyug–Righteous

Kamdev–God of love

Hijra–Eunuch

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Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

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Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(Archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)  

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. Book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

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STORY: TAPOBAL (The power in meditation)

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tapobal 1 tapobal 2 tapobal

    ‘Mother I too need to drink milk as my cousin, and it should be as sweet as his milk.’ Requested Upmanyu. As he returned home from his cousin’s place and sat on his mother’s lap. For just a little while ago he had seen his cousin relishing a big glass of milk while he got only a gulp to taste.

    ‘Son we are poor. We don’t even have grains at home to feed ourselves, where will we get milk from.’ Explained, her mother. But Upmanyu, her adamant son in the peak of childhood, was in no mood to relent.

    To satiate her son, she grounded some grains lying at home and after mixing it with water, she gave it to her son as milk.

    ‘No mother this is not milk. For milk is sweet.’ Upmanyu, stopped drinking the moment he tasted and even started crying. When his mother uttered in some desperation.

    ‘Son, in this world you have everything from stones to diamonds. But then, everyone gets what he gets, only as per his own fate and destiny. We are the unlucky ones and so even pure milk is difficult for us to get. Lord Shiva is very resourceful. If Bholenath is happy he won’t hesitate in gifting you, even the Kshirsagar (ocean of milk). But only after you are blessed by him, will your desires be fulfilled. And you can only win him over by tapasya.’ Upmanyu’s mother thus gave him a tip.

    ‘Mother! Then I will do intense tapasya. With that I will make my presence felt and it’ll even shake the throne of the Lord of all Gods that is Shiva, and as a blessing he will surely grant me the Kshirsagar.’ And with that in mind Upamnyu could not even for a moment stay at home and left for the mountains.

    Soon Upmanyu was into deep and prolonged tapasya in the Himalayas. To please Mahadev he even stopped consuming water and food. The entire world got a sense of well being from his tapasya. Lord Vishnu along with other devatas visited Lord Shiva in Mandarachal and said, ‘relieving child Upmanyu from his harsh tapasya and reassuring the world about kindness can only be done by you.’

    ‘This harsh tapasya is not meant for you, kid!’ said Indra, while getting of his elephant ‘Airawat’ and introducing himself.

    ‘You have purified the ashram by your arrival!’ Upmanyu welcomed Lord Indra and requested him for his guidance in finding Lord of Gods—Shiva.

    ‘It is extremely difficult to find Shiva. I rule all the three lokas. So, why don’t you come under my blessings, as I will let you experience and enjoy everything that the world has.’ Indra tested Upmanyu.

    ‘Indra! You just can’t be critical of Lord Shiva. And it appears you are some rogue disguised as Indra. You have come to hurdle my tapasya. You are a Lord Shiva baiter, I guess. I will therefore kill you as you have criticised my most respected Lord Shiva.’  With that Upmanyu ran to kill him, but then he suddenly stopped.

    ‘With the power of your tapobal you have obtained my blessings, I’m happy vatsya!’ said Shiva in Indra’s disguise, while blessing him. Upmanyu recognised Shiva and lay prostrate in front of him, regretting his aggression.

    ‘I was testing you.’ said Shiva. And by blessing his bhakt Upmanyu with Kshirsagar he fulfilled his wishes. After that he placed Upmanyu in the lap of Goddess Parvati and said ‘Parvati is your mother and I’m your father.’

    Lord of Gods Shiva then blessed Upmanyu with treasures of riches and the divine knowledge. Upmanyu was overwhelmed at that. He started singing their praise, is when Lord Shiva along with Parvati vanished from there.

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Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers that includes both children and adults and it has a huge variety in terms of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate for the cause. The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)  

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity. That happens to be its undying characteristic. The book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival of 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his ways through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10th February, 2018 in Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha

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