Tag Archives: mahabharat

SPEAKING TREE, CELEBRATING TRANSITIONS: MY PIECE IN ECONOMIC TIMES 15.1.26

January 15, 2026article, parable, Uncategorizedbhishm pitamah, capricorn, celebrating transitions, kamlesh tripathi, mahabharat, makar sankranti, sagittarius, shravan charity mission, solsticeshravancharitymission

I’m happy to share my piece, published today in The Speaking Tree, Economic Times.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

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The Sentinel: Commentary |Is ambition the double-edged sword of greatness?

December 30, 2025article, literature, Uncategorizedambition, brutus, gratiano, is ambition the double edged sword of greatness, julius caesar, kamlesh tripathi, mahabharat, shravan charity mission, william shakespeareshravancharitymission

Happy to share my piece published in Oursentinel in the United States of America.

The Sentinel: Commentary |Is ambition the double-edged sword of greatness? https://share.google/4SfdYBBzcdQZPldpn

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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 designed for our readers, including children and adults, and feature a diverse range of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to contribute to the cause of cancer research? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

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IS AMBITION A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD OF GREATNESS? … by Kamlesh Tripathi

November 29, 2025article, literature, Uncategorizedambition, Durga, duryodhana, hastinapur, julius caesar, kamlesh tripathi, karna, kurukshetra, lanka, macbeth, mahabharat, mark antony, ravana, roman republic, rome, shravan charity mission, william shakespeareshravancharitymission

To quote Mark Antony in Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, “ Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;/I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him./The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones;/So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus/Hath told you Caesar was ambitious./If it were so, it was a grievous fault,/And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it”.

Ambition is highly incendiary. It can illuminate the path to greatness or burn everything in its heat. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Caesar’s ambition is both political and personal. He is neither a clear villain nor an innocent victim. His rise to power threatens to jeopardise the balance of the Roman Republic. To Brutus and the conspirators, Caesar’s growing influence signals a danger to Rome’s liberty and its soul. They believe that if Caesar’s ambition is left unchecked, it would transform a free republic into a monarchy. But as per Shakespeare, Caesar’s ambition is as much perceived as proven. He refuses the crown three times. He speaks for the people and wins their loyalty. His “fault,” perhaps, lies not in the naked greed for power but in his pride. “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more,” says Brutus. Ambition must be punished before it turns into tyranny. But Shakespeare refuses to make the judgment easy. Caesar’s ambition is not that of a usurper. He is neither the villain nor the saint of the play.

In Indian mythology, we find numerous characters whose fates mirror that of Caesar’s. Ravana, the mighty king of Lanka, was a scholar, warrior, and devotee of Lord Shiva. Yet his depraved ambition to be invincible and possess Sita led him to his downfall. As a result, his strength turned to self-destruction. Finally, it wasn’t Rama’s arrows alone that destroyed him, but his own unchecked ambition. The same holds for Duryodhana in the Mahabharata. His craving to rule Hastinapura mirrors Caesar’s political hunger. He could not bear to see the Pandavas prosper. His refusal to grant even “five villages” led to the catastrophic Kurukshetra war. Like Caesar, Duryodhana believed power to be his birthright.

Karna’s story offers a fine parallel to Caesar’s personal ambition. Born into secrecy and raised in obscurity, Karna’s entire life is driven by a longing for recognition and respect. His ambition is noble. He wishes to prove his worth against Arjuna and rise above the stigma of his birth. Similarly, Caesar’s early life is marked by political struggle and a fierce determination to climb the ranks of Roman power. Yet both men get entangled in loyalties that blur moral boundaries. Karna’s devotion to Duryodhana, like Caesar’s trust in Antony and others, leads him to defend causes that conflict with dharma. Ambition without a noble cause, Shakespeare and Vyasa both suggest, can make even noble men pawns in larger tragedies.

Hiranyakashipu’s ambition to rule the three worlds and attain immortality resembles Caesar’s own belief that he was beyond human intervention, as he proudly declares himself “as constant as the Northern Star.” Caesar’s rise disrupts the harmony of the Roman Republic. Their arrogance invites downfall—one at the hands of Narasimha, the other at the daggers of Brutus & co.

Similarly, Mahishasura, who sought supremacy over the gods, embodies unrestrained ambition that disturbs the cosmic balance. He, too, is destroyed by the divine feminine force, Goddess Durga. In every tale, ambition that crosses moral or spiritual boundaries brings destruction, not only to the ambitious themselves but to the world around them. Narasimha’s claws and the daggers of Brutus are but instruments of the same law: that unchecked ambition invites its own end.

Mythology offers a counterpoint in the case of King Mahabali. Mahabali desired to rule heaven, earth, and the underworld. But when faced with Lord Vishnu in his Vamana avatar, he chose humility over defiance, surrendering his kingdom and ego. Unlike Ravana or Duryodhana, Mahabali’s humility redeemed him, earning divine grace and immortality in memory. Here lies a profound contrast with Caesar: where Mahabali bows, Caesar refuses to yield. Shakespeare’s Caesar, standing tall against the soothsayer’s warning, “Beware the Ides of March”, becomes the very image of a man too proud to listen, too ambitious to step back.

Ambition, then, is the fire that can both create and consume. It is political when it seeks power, personal when it seeks recognition, and tragic when it forgets restraint. From Caesar to Ravana, from Duryodhana to Macbeth, the pattern endures; the greater the climb, the greater the fall. As Shakespeare and the epics remind us, ambition is not inherently evil. It becomes dangerous when it blinds the heart and mind. To be ambitious is human. To be over-ambitious is to challenge the divine. The lesson of Caesar and his mythological counterparts is eternal. Ambition must be guided by wisdom, or it becomes a double-edged sword. One that wins glory in one stroke and brings ruin in the next.

From Caesar’s Rome to Ravana’s Lanka, from Duryodhana’s Hastinapura to Macbeth’s Scotland, the story remains unchanged. Ambition is both the sculptor and the destroyer of greatness. Ambition is divine when guided by purpose, but deadly when driven by ego. It can build empires, yet when it loses sight of humility, it consumes all that it touches.

So, is being ambitious a double-edged sword? Indeed, it is. One edge gleams with glory. The other drips with ruin, the cost of believing oneself to be larger than the truth. Caesar’s blood on the steps of the Senate, Ravana’s fall in battle, Duryodhana’s broken crown, and Karna’s dying smile, all remind us that the line between greatness and downfall is as thin as a sword’s edge.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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 designed for our readers, including children and adults, and feature a diverse range of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? 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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19/7/2025: The Soul Connection … by Kamlesh Tripathi

September 2, 2025article, short story, story, UncategorizedHiranyakashipu, holika, hunter, jarra, kamlesh tripathi, karn, king chitraketu, Krishn, mahabharat, prahlad, shravan charity mission, speaking tree, the soul connection, times of india, Valakhilyas, veer ghatotkachashravancharitymission

Don’t miss my short story ‘The Soul Connection’ published in the Speaking Tree, Times of India, New Delhi Edition on 19/7/25. Happy reading.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Should India Include All-Time Classic Movies in School and College Syllabi in This Digital Age? by Kamlesh Tripathi

August 29, 2025article, column, Uncategorizedart, bollywood, books, british raj, china, classic movies, Cromwell, digital age, do bigha zamin, dosti, food, Gandhi, guide, haqueeqat, hollywood, kamlesh tripathi, kollywood, mahabharat, Mother India, nuremberg, pakistan, pather panchalli, photography, radha, ramayana, sajid khan, schindler's list, sholay, shravan charity mission, sunil dutt, tollywood, travelshravancharitymission

In today’s digital world, where attention spans are shrinking and reading habits are on the decline, it is about time we rethink how we educate and connect with the younger generation. A powerful and often overlooked tool is the classic Indian cinema. Just like the manner in which William Shakespeare’s plays are studied in schools and colleges for their literary merit and social relevance, classic Indian films, too, deserve a place in our school and college syllabi.

It is said that old books and films are windows to the past. They serve as mirrors reflecting the values, struggles, and ethos of a bygone era. A few months ago, on the occasion of Mother’s Day, while reminiscing about my late mother, I stumbled upon the evergreen classic ‘Mother India’ on television. Although I had watched it several times before, especially because my one-time close friend, the late Sajid Khan, had played a role in it as the young Sunil Dutt, this time it felt different. As if I wasn’t just watching the movie ‘Mother India.’ But I was watching the real India of 1957.

The film tells the touching story of Radha, an impoverished, rural village woman who struggles against all odds to raise her sons in her husband’s absence. She encounters severe poverty, exploitation by a moneylender, and personal tragedy, yet she emerges as an emblem of strength, sacrifice, and moral integrity. In several ways, she becomes the archetype of the traditional Indian woman.

Mother India is more than just a typical film. It holds cultural and social significance. It vividly depicts the struggles of rural India in the post-independence period. Watching this movie is like stepping back in time to understand what our ancestors endured. ‘Mother India’ is one of the many classics preserved in the archives of Bollywood, as well as in the regional film centres of Tollywood and Kollywood.

There are many such classic, cult and epic films and TV serials like Dosti, Do Bigha Zamin, Guide, Haqueeqat, Gandhi, Sholay, Pather Panchali, Ramayana, Mahabharat, to name a few, that vividly capture different aspects of Indian life. It could be from social inequality, the British Raj, mythology, penance, the fight for India’s freedom or the wars with Pakistan and China. These films provide context, depth, and real-life visuals to what students might otherwise only read or cram in history or literature books.

It is about time the Government considers constituting a national panel to select a curated list of classic Indian films for inclusion in school and college syllabi. These films could be rotated class-wise or standard-wise, or stream-wise. They could be aligned with topics in history, literature, sociology, ethics, and more. The way Shakespearean plays are studied for their literary value and insights into human behaviour, Indian classics can also be studied for their cultural, emotional, and historical richness.

65% of India’s population is under 35. Digital distractions are everywhere; therefore, classic films can be a more engaging add-on to traditional textbooks. Surveys show that young people today often struggle to read even 500 words at a stretch, but they can easily sit through a well-written storyline in a movie. Visual learning is known to improve retention and understanding. It makes classic movies an effective educational tool.

This approach need not be limited to domestic films alone. Historical and biographical classics from Hollywood or other international cinemas, such as Cromwell, Nuremberg or Schindler’s List, could also be part of an extended curriculum. This will especially benefit students planning to work or study abroad. It will help them gain cultural and historical awareness about the countries they are headed to.

Incorporating cinema into education doesn’t mean replacing books, but it would mean enhancing the learning experience. Students could watch in-syllabus films followed by classroom discussions, essays, or creative projects. It would not only build their analytical and emotional intelligence. It will also cultivate a deeper appreciation of India’s cinematic and historical heritage.

Furthermore, in business and professional schools, an extracurricular cinema curriculum could be developed to help students understand global cultures, leadership models, historical contexts, and ethical dilemmas, all of which are frequently depicted in well-made films.

Cinema is not just entertainment. It is a form of art that captures the values of society, its history, and love for humanity. Though Indian classic movies are rich in content, emotion, and social commentary, they are a forgotten treasure. They can educate, inspire, and connect the youth to their roots.

In this digital era, where attention spans are short and reading habits are waning, integrating timeless films into the academic curriculum may well be the most impactful way to preserve our cultural heritage and prepare students for a more thoughtfully aware future.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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The Significance of Number 18 in Hindu Scriptures

May 12, 2025article, facts, mythology, shravan charity mission, snippet, spiritual, Uncategorized18, art, books, epic, inspiration, kamlesh tripathi, kauravas, mahabharat, pandavas, poetry, scriptures, shravancharitymission, spiritual, travelshravancharitymission

Number 18 unquestionably is considered auspicious and has great significance in Hindu scriptures. This significance is highlighted in the great epic, the Mahabharata. While reading the holy epic Mahabharata, you will find that it is divided into 18 parvas (sections). Let’s not forget that the holy war of the Mahabharata, fought in Kurukshetra, was fought over 18 days. The battlefield witnessed 18 divisions (akshauhinis) of armies. 11 divisions were on the Kauravas’ side and 7 were on the Pandavas’ side. At the end of the war, which lasted 18 days, it is believed that only 18 prominent individuals survived. This underlines the transformative impact of this conflict, which had spiritual and moral dimensions.

The Bhagavad Gita, which is a sacred discourse delivered by Lord Krishna and is the most important part of the Mahabharata, also consists of 18 chapters. At the end of its 2^nd chapter, Lord Krishna outlines 18 qualities that define a person of steady wisdom (sthita-prajna), highlighting the traits of one who has achieved spiritual victory.

Apart from the Mahabharata, the number 18 also appears in other key Hindu texts. There are 18 major Puranas and 18 Upapuranas, which include stories, teachings, and cosmological concepts. There are 18 Dharmashastras, guiding principles of law and ethics for righteous living.

The central idea of all scriptures of all religions in the world is the same. The prime idea is the victory of the higher being over the lower one, or righteousness over unrighteousness, or of the good over the evil, and of dharma over adharma. Ved Vyas had originally titled the Mahabharat as Jaya (victory). The word Jaya is in the opening stanzas of both the Mahabharata and the Gita.

Interestingly, in the ancient Katapayadi system (numerical notation system) of Sanskrit numerology, where letters are assigned numerical values, the word “Jaya” (meaning “victory”) equals 18. The original name of the Mahabharata was Jaya Samhita, and it appears in the opening verses of both the Mahabharata and the Gita. This numerical value emphasises the theme of spiritual triumph. To highlight the significance of the word Jaya, the number 18 is given a prominent place not only in the Mahabharata but also in various other Hindu scriptures. Thus, the number 18 is repeatedly used as an auspicious reminder to stay alert in our constant battle for inner spiritual victory.

Across all Hindu scriptures, the central message remains unchanged: the victory of dharma (righteousness) over adharma (unrighteousness), the higher self over the lower, and good over evil. The repeated use of the number 18 serves as a symbolic reminder of this ongoing inner battle—and the ultimate goal of achieving spiritual victory, or jaya.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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AFTER BIRTH, DEATH IS THE FIRST SPIRITUAL TIP

April 2, 2025article, column, facts, moral lesson, parables, Uncategorizedgod, kamlesh tripathi, karma, Kathopanishad, mahabharat, moral, mother earth, Nachiketa, shravan charity mission, spiritual, story, yudhishthirshravancharitymission

My piece was published in The Goan Net Everyday on 30.3.25.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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INDIA AFLOAT LIKE THE SHIP OF THESEUS

March 3, 2025Uncategorizedhinduism, india, invaders, kamlesh tripathi, literature, mahabharat, Mahakhumbh, poems, poetry, Ram Rajya, ship of theseus, shravan charity mission, writingshravancharitymission

Resilient India, much like the Ship of Theseus, has undergone profound and continuous transformations over the centuries, yet its essence remains remarkably consistent. The Ship of Theseus’s paradox is a classic philosophical thought experiment that queries whether an object that has had all its parts replaced over time can still be considered the same object. The paradox raises fundamental questions about identity, continuity, and change—questions that can be deeply applied to the story of India.

During its primordial history, India has been subjected to multiple invasions, foreign influences, colonial rule, and internal upheavals. From the early invasions of the Mughals to British colonisation, followed by independence and the ongoing evolution of its society, India has seen drastic political, social, and cultural changes. Yet, despite these transformations, India has retained its core identity, much like the Ship of Theseus, which, although constantly repaired and refurbished, still retains its function and spirit. The question, then, arises: Is India still the same India after all these changes? Or has it become something fundamentally different?

The analogy of the “rotting planks” and the “invaders” is especially apt in this context. India’s history has been marked by waves of foreign influence and control. Yet, like the ship that stays afloat even as its parts and planks are gradually replaced, India has managed to preserve its relevance through the centuries. The country’s resilience and ability to absorb and adapt to these changes demonstrate its remarkable continuity.

Hinduism, in particular, serves as an example of this enduring continuity. Despite the multiple invasions, foreign rule, and the introduction of different religions and philosophies, Hinduism has not only survived but has thrived. It has evolved, integrating new ideas and practices, yet its core spiritual principles have remained unchanged. Hinduism flourished during ancient times, including the Ram Rajya and Mahabharata, and even after the numerous foreign invasions, it continues to flourish even today. (Mahakumbh is a live example of that).

The Ship of Theseus’s paradox becomes even more compelling when we apply it to India’s history. Just as the ship’s identity persists even as its parts are replaced, India’s identity remains intact, even though it has undergone substantial transformations. Over the centuries, India has experienced numerous political and cultural shifts—each of these changes can be seen as the replacement of one “plank” of the ship. British colonial rule introduced new administrative systems, ideologies, and governance structures, while independence and partition created dramatic changes in India’s political landscape.

Yet, beneath these changes, the core of India remains the same. The specific manifestations of India’s identity may have shifted over time, but its fundamental essence remains intact. India’s ability to absorb external influences while maintaining its unique cultural identity is what allows it to continue to thrive, much like a ship that, despite repairs and refurbishments, retains its original course.

The paradox of identity that the Ship of Theseus presents raises important philosophical questions: If every component of India has changed over the centuries, is it still the same India? Or is it a new entity altogether? From a metaphysical perspective, the answer may lie in the idea that identity is not static. Just as the ship retains its spirit even as its physical form changes, India retains its soul even as its political, social, and cultural structures evolve.

India’s story, then, is one of dynamic continuity. It is a living, breathing entity that evolves while retaining the essence of its civilization. Each phase of India’s history—whether the ancient period, the medieval era, the colonial period, or post-independence India—adds a new layer to the country’s identity. These layers are not a sign of India losing its original self, but rather of a nation that is constantly redefined, reshaped, and yet always remains connected to its roots. Just like the Ship of Theseus, India’s identity is not determined by the individual parts but by the broader spirit that she carries through time.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Publications of Kamlesh Tripathi

BOOK TITLE: GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in eight prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in the libraries and archives of Canada; the Open Library; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore and the Library of Cancer Aid and Research Foundation, Mumbai. The title also finds a mention in a book titled ‘Enduring Cancer: Life, Death and Diagnosis in Delhi’ by Dwaipayan Banerjee published by the Duke University Press).

BOOK TITLE: ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(It is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

BOOK TITLE: AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(This 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, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is catalogued and included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California; The Peshastin Public Library and The George Public Library near Washington, a Northern Central Washington Libraries branch; the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library in Arizona in the US and the Salina Public Library, Kansas, USA.

BOOK TITLE: 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 at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).

BOOK TITLE: TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

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

BOOK TITLE: RHYTHM … IN POEMS

(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems are about our day-to-day life. Poems from this book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times, Bhavan’s Journal and Arunachal Times and Goan net. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

BOOK TITLE: MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

BOOK TITLE: AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

(It is the story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21^st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE. Included in the library of Friends of Tibet and Maharashtra Mitra Mandal Library in Bandra, Mumbai.

(POEMS, SHORT STORIES AND ARTICLES OF KAMLESH TRIPATHI PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS, JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES)

TIMES OF INDIA

Speaking Tree: Basant Celebrates Ma Saraswati, Shiv, And Spring 1.2.25; 2. Mahashivratri: A Night of Divine Illumination, 26.2.25;

BHAVANS JOURNAL

Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars, June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22;27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. The Nag Mandir 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23; 45.Book review: Jungle Nama … a story of the Sundarban 16.3.24; 46. Book review: A Forgotten Chapter 16.5.24; 47. Exploring Ancient Egypt, 1.8.24; 48. The Story of Dhruva, 16.8.24; 49. Two Hundred Years of Tea in Assam 16.9.24; 50. The Cosmic Messenger 16.10.24; 51. Biblioburro: The Four-Legged Library 16.11.24; 52. The Cologne Cathedral 1.1.25; 53. Gandhi to Mahatma 16.1.25;

THE SHILLONG TIMES

Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: Happy New Year 8.1.23; 2.Poem: Spring 12.3.23; 3.Poem: Right and Wrong 20.3.23; 4. The Gush of Emotion—Writing, 26.3.23; 5. The Nag Mandir, 7.5.23; 6. Poem: Mother 7.5.23; 7. Poem: Rain Rain 9.7.23; 8. Poem: You Come Alone You Go Alone 6.8.23; 9. Poem: Rain Rain (Second Time) 10.8.23; 10. Poem: Guru Teacher 1.10.23; 11. Poem: Autumn … The Interim Heaven 15.10.23; 12. Poem: Happy Diwali 12.11.23; 13. Overcoming Blindness: Learn it the John Milton Way 10.12.23; 14. The Happy Prince and The Happy Man’s Shirt 31.12.23; 15. Annus Mirabilis -2024 7.1.24; 16. Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. Poem: Together But Not Made For Each Other, 11.2.24; 18. The Birds Bees and The Spiders of Nicholas Guildford and Jonathan Swift 25.2.24; 19. The Overcoats of Nikolai Gogol and Ruskin Bond 10.3.24; 20. The Ethnic Colours of Holi 24.3.24; 21. A Lesson from Dalai Lama, 21.4.24; 22. Poem: Morning Walk 28.4.24; 23. Trip to Rhine Falls, Switzerland, 19.5.24; 24. Poem: Hurt 2.6.24; 25. Poem: Your Conscience Was My Sign On 16.6.24; 26.Poem: The Eerie Ways of Time 7.7.24; 27.Poem: Celebrating the T20 World Champions 14.7.24;28. Read to Rise above mediocrity, 4.8.24; 29. Poem: Desire vs Reality 11.8.24; 30. Jack Ma’s Pristine Advice to Employers, Employees and the Youth 22.9.24; 31. Tagore and Kipling 3.11.24; 32. Poem: Merry Christmas 22.12.24; 33. Poem: The Sunset Point, 5.1.25; 34. Cancer Warning Labels on Alcoholic Beverages, 12.1.25; 35. Poem: Hope … In the Arc of Twilight, 19.1.25; 36. Basant Panchami, celebrates the Arrival of Spring 2.2.25; 37. Poem: The Falling World Order, 9.2.25; 38. A Peep into Native American Literature’

THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

Article: 1. The Magic of Reading 11.12.23; 2. Gandhi to Mahatma 29.1.24; 3. Geography of Solitude 8.4.24; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 22.4.24; 5. A Source of Inspiration, 29.4.24; 6. The Four-Legged Library, 12.5.24; 7. Age and Achievement, 10.6.24; 8. Read … To Rise Above Mediocrity, 1.7.24; 9. Crusade for a College, 25.8.24; 10. Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory (Panorama) 27.9.24; 11. Short story: Love in the Air, 20.10.24; 12. Short story: The Prick of Conscience, 5.1.25; 13. Lost in translation, 6.1.25; 14. Travellers’ tales 20.1.2025; 15. Audit your days 17.2.25;

THE ARUNACHAL TIMES

Poem: 1. Hope—In The Arc of Twilight, 13.8.23; 2.Poem: Spring 3.3.24; 3.Poem: The Morning Walk 10.3.24;

BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. Poem: Mother, 1.6.23; 3. Poem: Rain Rain, 1.8.23; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 1.6.24; 5. Read to rise above Mediocrity 1.8.24

THE GOAN NET

Poem: 1. Autumn – The Interim Heaven, 6.10.24; 2. Reader’s Rewind 17.11.84; 3. Reader’s Rewind: The Irony of Tash Moustache or Mooch 5.12.24; 4. The Sunset Point 22.12.24; 5. Reader’s Rewind: The Joy of a Morning Walk, 3.1.25; 6. Harmony in creation 26.1.25; 7. Poem: What is truly Good for me? 2.1.25; 8. Poem: We both were left behind, 9.2.25; 9. India Afloat like Ship of Theseus; 10. Maha Shivratri: A night of divine illumination, spiritual awakening, 26.2.25;

ARTICLES IN THE DIGITALARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

Aritcles: 29.12.2020: Indica by Megasthenes; 14.3.22: About The Dimasa Kingdom Assam; 10.12.22: Grand Trunk Road–Uttarapath; 5.10.23: The Ghost Town of Kuldhara Near Jaisalmer;

(ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

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THE BOON AND BANE OF ASHWATTHAMA

October 29, 2024article, mythologyajjuna, ashwatthama, bhishma pitamah, brahmastra, dronacharya, duryodhan, dvapar yug, ganges, hinduism, history, kamlesh tripathi, kauravas, Kripacharya, kripi, krishna, kritavarma, mahabharat, mahabharata, maharathi, panchal, pandavas, religion, shikhandi, Shiva, shravan charity mission, upapandavas, vyasa, yudhishthirshravancharitymission

Maharathi Ashwatthama was cursed by Lord Krishna during the holy war of Mahabharat for the horrendous infanticide that he had already committed and intended to commit and also for all the other crimes committed by him during the course of the war in the Dvapar-Yug. It was unbecoming for a Maharathi in any yug to have behaved like Ashwatthama.

Ashwatthama was the son of Dronacharya, the royal preceptor of the Kauravas and the Pandavas. His mother was Kripi. As per the scripts of Mahabharat, Ashwatthama means “the sacred voice which relates to that of a horse”. It is believed that he was named so because when he was born he cried like a horse. He was trained in warfare along with the Kauravas and the Pandavas by his father, Dronacharya. Ashwatthama had acquired knowledge of various divine weapons, namely Narayanastra, Brahmastra, Brahmashirastra, and many others.

He was born in a cave amid a forest in present-day Uttarakhand. Dronacharya performed rigorous tapasya for many years to please Lord Shiva in order to obtain a son who after birth possessed the same valiance as Shiva.

He was born with a divine gem on his forehead which gave him power over, all living beings, lower than human beings. It also protected him from hunger, thirst, fatigue, old age, disease, weapons, and deities. The gem made him almost invincible and immortal.

He was a friend of evil Duryodhan and fought the devastating War of Mahabharat from his side. He fought against the upstanding Pandavas, who with the blessings of Lord Krishna, won the battle of Mahabharat, fought in Kurukshetra. While Arjun killed several warriors, Bhima killed the ninety-nine brothers of Duryodhan and also defeated him in a mace (gada) fight in which he was mortally wounded by Bhima on the thigh on account of which he too died.

Ashwatthama, in order to avenge his father’s death caused by mendacious means, as well as the deceitful killing of other Kuru (Kaurav) warriors by the Pandavas, attacked their camp at night along with Kripacharya and Kritavarma. Ashwatthama killed Dhrishtadyumma (the twin brother of Draupadi), Shikhandi, Upapandavas (the five sons of Draupadi), the remaining Pandavas and the remaining members of the Panchal army. Even though many warriors tried to fight back, but Ashwatthama remained unharmed due to his body being possessed by Lord Shiva. Those who tried to flee from Ashwatthama’s wrath were hacked by Kripacharya and Kritavarma at the camp’s entrance.

After the carnage, Ashwatthama, Kripacharya and Kritavarma went to Duryodhan. They told him about the killing of all the Panchalas and the Upapandavas. Duryodhana congratulated Ashwatthama for achieving what Bhishma, Dronacharya, and Karna could not before breathing his last breath.

The Pandavas and Krishna, were away that night. When they returned to the camp they got the gory news. Upon hearing the news, Yudhishthir fainted, and the Pandavas turned inconsolable. Bhima angrily rushed to kill Ashwatthama and others followed. They found him in Sage Vyasa’s ashram near the bank of the Ganges.

Ashwatthama, believing that his time had come, invoked the Brahmastra to attack Pandavas from a tiny blade of grass to fulfil the oath of killing them. Krishna advised Arjun to fire his Brahmastra as an anti-weapon against Ashwatthama to defend themselves. Sage Vyasa intervened and prevented the destructive weapons from clashing against each other. He asked both Arjun and Ashwatthama to take their weapons back. Arjun, knowing how to do so, took it back.

But Ashwatthama, not knowing how to retract it, despite his early education on Brahmastra, redirected the Brahmastra toward the womb of the pregnant Uttara in an attempt to end the lineage of the Pandavas. But Krishna shielded the Pandavas’ only heir with his Sudarshana Chakra. Krishna also saved Uttara’s unborn child from the ill effects of the Brahmastra. Ashwatthama was then made to surrender the gem on his forehead that carved a permanent wound there and was cursed by Lord Krishna, for his immortality, and that he would roam in the forests till the end of Kali-Yug with blood and pus oozing out of his wound, and with no one to talk to him. Thereafter Ashwatthama went to the forest never to be seen again. Though Ashwatthama was a Maharathi of Dwapar-Yug his act of infanticide turned him into a demon not fit even for Kali-Yug. The search for Ashwatthama is still on in Kali-Yug but he is nowhere to be seen because of the curse.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Publications of Kamlesh Tripathi

BOOK TITLE: GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

BOOK TITLE: ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

BOOK TITLE: AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

BOOK TITLE: REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

BOOK TITLE: TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

BOOK TITLE: RHYTHM … IN POEMS

(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems are about our day-to-day life. Poems from this book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times, Bhavan’s Journal and Arunachal Times. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

BOOK TITLE: MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

BOOK TITLE: AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

(POEMS, SHORT STORIES AND ARTICLES OF KAMLESH TRIPATHI PUBLISHED IN JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES)

BHAVANS JOURNAL

THE SHILLONG TIMES

THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

THE ARUNACHAL TIMES

Poem: 1. Hope—In The Arc of Twilight, 13.8.23; 2.Poem: Spring 3.3.24; 3.Poem: The Morning Walk 10.3.24;

BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. Poem: Mother, 1.6.23; 3. Poem: Rain Rain, 1.8.23; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 1.6.24; 5. Read to rise above Mediocrity 1.8.24

THE GOAN

Poem: Autumn – The Interim Heaven, 6.10.24

ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

Aritcles: 29.12.2020: Indica by Megasthenes; 14.3.22: About The Dimasa Kingdom Assam; 10.12.22: Grand Trunk Road–Uttarapath; 5.10.23: The Ghost Town of Kuldhara Near Jaisalmer;

(ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

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THE STORY OF NARAD MUNI-THE COSMIC MESSENGER

September 7, 2024mythology, Uncategorizedbrahma, COSMIC MESSENGER, gandharva, god, kamlesh tripathi, karma, krishna, mahabharat, moral, narad muni, NARAYAN, RISHIRAJA, shravan charity mission, spiritual, story, UPABARHANA, VEENAshravancharitymission

Narad Muni is a divine sage, popular in Hindu mythology as a travelling musician and storyteller, who carries news and enlightening wisdom. He is a mind-created (manasputras) child of Lord Brahma, the creator. Narad appears in several Hindu texts, notably the Mahabharat, telling Yudhishthir the story of Prahalad. He also appears in Ramayan and Purans. He is also referred to as Rishiraja, meaning the king of all sages and is gifted with the knowledge of the past, present, and future.

In the Indian scriptures, Narad travels to distant worlds and Lokas. He is depicted carrying a khartal (a musical instrument) and the veena and is regarded as one of the great masters of the ancient musical instrument. He is depicted as wise, mischievous and even humorous in mythological tales. He is noted for being meddlesome and provoking conflict between the gods and the demons. Texts named after Narad include the Narad Puran and the Naradsmriti.

Long ago, there lived a Gandharva known by the name Upabarhana. Gandharvas are musical beings, a category of Devatas who live in Gandharvaloka in heaven. Upabarhana was a handsome person. Once the residents of heaven organised a spiritual gathering to glorify Lord Narayan (Vishnu). All the Devatas, including Gandharvas and Apsaras, were invited to participate in this gathering. Upabarhana too, went for this spiritual event but unfortunately, instead of glorifying Lord Narayan, he started singing songs for the demigods which was inappropriate for the occasion. Thus the members of the festival got upset with this behaviour of his.

The Prajapatis, who supervised the affairs of the universe felt he needed to be punished for his misdemeanour. So they cursed him to become an ugly low-class person. As a result, Upabarhana fell on planet Earth from the heaven. He was now deprived of his exalted position as a Gandharva and took birth as the only son of a maidservant on earth. In the process, he lost the grace and beauty of which he was so proud.

The maid-servant was poor and uneducated. But she was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to serve the noble-hearted Brahmins. She did menial services for the maintenance of herself and her child. The boy was dependent on his mother and had no experience of another Loka. He believed that she would never leave him and they lived in a Gurukul.

Once, some sages came there. They were learned Vedic scholars and devotees of Lord Narayan (Vishnu). They decided to stay there during the four months of the rainy season. This allowed the maid-servant and the son to offer their services.

Whenever the scholars talked about Lord Narayan, the boy would attentively hear them. Thus, his love for Lord Narayan started unfolding. In the company of the scholars, the boy slowly became an ardent follower of the Lord. The sages were impressed by the demeanour of the boy and he gradually engaged himself in the service of the Lord. When the sages were about to depart, they taught him Srimad Bhagavatam and supported him in the path of bhakti leading to Lord Vishnu & Lord Krishna. After the departure of the great sages, the boy continued to live with his mother. He was overwhelmed by the inspiration he had received from the sages in their wonderful company.

One day when the mother of the boy went out to milk a cow in the evening. While walking along the path, she stamped a snake, retaliating, the snake too bit her foot and she died on the spot. In this tragic incident, the boy saw the hand of God. Since he was now left alone he decided to travel to places in search of knowledge and enlightenment. He passed through many cities, towns, villages, valleys, gardens, forests, hills, and mountains and he kept remembering his Narayan while travelling.

After days of travelling, the boy (Narad) reached a tranquil forest location. He was thirsty and hungry. He came across a river, where he bathed and quenched his thirst in the nearby stream. Relieved he sat under the shade of a big banyan tree and began his meditation thinking of Narayan (Vishnu) as he had been taught by the priests that he had served. After a while, Narad experienced a vision wherein Lord Vishnu appeared before him and said, ‘My dear Narad, despite my blessings because of which you can see me at this moment, you would not be able to see my divine form again till you’re dead.’ Vishnu then explained the reason why Narad had been given a chance to see his divine form. It was because Vishnu’s beauty and love would be a source of inspiration and would fuel Narad’s dormant desire to be with the Lord again. After apprising Narad in this manner, Vishnu disappeared from his sight. The boy awoke from his meditation, both thrilled and disappointed.

Thereafter, the boy started chanting the Lord’s name. He travelled across the world. In due course of time, he was accepted by Lord Narayan and he became detached from all material taints and passed away. After leaving his mortal body, he entered a spiritual body as the son of Lord Brahma who was creating the universe, and as a befitting associate of the Lord, he became the great sage Narad Muni. Narad Muni is a great teacher and the guru of several devoted kings like Dhruva, Prahlada, Mrigari, Priyavrata, and others.

In the Mahabharat, Narad is portrayed as being conversant with the Vedas and the Upanishads and acquainted with Purans. He has a mastery over the six Angas (limbs of knowledge): pronunciation, grammar, prosody, terms, religious rites and astronomy. All celestial beings worship him for his knowledge – he is supposed to be well-versed in all that occurred in the ancient Kalpas (time cycles). He is eloquent, resolute, intelligent and a possessor of powerful memory. He knows the science of morals and politics. He is skilled in drawing inferences from evidence and very proficient in distinguishing inferior things from superior ones. He is a master of the Sankhya and Yoga systems of philosophy, conversant with the sciences of war and treaties and proficient in drawing conclusions by judging things, not within direct knowledge. He knows about the six sciences of a treaty, war, military campaigns, maintenance of posts against the enemy and strategies of ambushes and reserves. He is a thorough master of every branch of learning. He is fond of war and music and incapable of being repulsed by any science or any course of action.

Narad temples are few, the most prominent being the Sri Narad Muni Temple at Chigateri Karnataka.

The famous chant of Narad Muni is Narayan—Narayan.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Like it and Share it

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Publications of Kamlesh Tripathi

BOOK TITLE: GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

BOOK TITLE: ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

BOOK TITLE: AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

BOOK TITLE: REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

BOOK TITLE: TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

BOOK TITLE: RHYTHM … IN POEMS

(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems are about our day-to-day life. Poems from this book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times, Bhavan’s Journal and Arunachal Times. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

BOOK TITLE: MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

BOOK TITLE: AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

(POEMS AND ARTICLES OF KAMLESH TRIPATHI PUBLISHED IN JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES)

BHAVANS JOURNAL

THE SHILLONG TIMES

THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

THE ARUNACHAL TIMES

Poem: 1. Hope—In The Arc of Twilight, 13.8.23; 2.Poem: Spring 3.3.24; 3.Poem: The Morning Walk 10.3.24;

BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. Poem: Mother, 1.6.23; 3. Poem: Rain Rain, 1.8.23; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 1.6.24; 5. Read to rise above Mediocrity 1.8.24

ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

29.12.2020: Indica by Megasthenes; 14.3.22: About The Dimasa Kingdom Assam; 10.12.22: Grand Trunk Road–Uttarapath; 5.10.23: The Ghost Town of Kuldhara Near Jaisalmer;

(ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

*****

Shravan charity mission

Our NGO works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases especially cancer: We cover our blog with short stories, children's stories, articles, book reviews, vignettes, spiritual, episodes, poetry, analysis, news report, general knowledge, quotes for the benefit of our readers.

Tag Archives: mahabharat

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IS AMBITION A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD OF GREATNESS? … by Kamlesh Tripathi

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AFTER BIRTH, DEATH IS THE FIRST SPIRITUAL TIP

INDIA AFLOAT LIKE THE SHIP OF THESEUS

THE BOON AND BANE OF ASHWATTHAMA

THE STORY OF NARAD MUNI-THE COSMIC MESSENGER