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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Knowledge must ripen into wisdom

 

CHENNAI, JUNE 12. The scriptural texts like the Puranas and the

epics are not mere books; the Mahabharata, for instance, is a

veritable landscape, life itself opening endless vistas. There is

ethics binding the epic from beginning to end, there are sages

and sinners too. Behind all is the kind director guiding the

destiny of all - Lord Krishna. This is not just the history of

the Pandavas and the Kauravas, but that of Krishna when He

incarnated as a human being in this world.

 

Four episodes stand out in this epic as independent texts by

themselves because the wisdom they embody is relevant to all

times. They are the Sanatsujatiya, Vidhuraniti, Bhagavad Gita and

the Yakshaprasna. The focus is on Dharma in the Yakshaprasna and

the question and answer method is adopted to convey the

intricacies of Dharma. The situation happened to be a matter of

life and death and the glory of Yudhishtra was in the manner he

replied without allowing emotions to disturb his mind. He got

back not just one but all his brothers because of his adherence

to Dharma. This dialogue between the elder Pandava and the

Yaksha, who was his father, Dharma, come in disguise to test his

adherence to righteousness, is a document of wisdom.

 

In her discourse, Smt. Prema Pandurang said that the Pandavas

came to the lake after they failed to find the stag which had

run away with the Arani sticks used to make fire belonging to an

Agnihotrin. He had approached the Pandavas who felt it their duty

to help him and when they could not trace it, became very

remorseful. Tired and thirsty they were drawn to the lake one by

one. An ethereal voice warned each one of them to answer its

questions before drinking the water and without paying heed to it

they fell down dead. When all his brothers did not return

Yudhishtra went in search of them and was stunned to find all his

valiant brothers lying dead.

 

The same voice cautioned him that his brothers had not paid

attention to it and met this fate. Yudhishtra, on the other hand,

patiently answered the Yaksha who appeared in a gruesome form

before him. The subject matter of this exchange is encylcopaedic

ranging from what makes the Sun rise to the most wonderful thing

in the world for which Dharmaputra pointed out, ``Day after day

there enter into the Temple of Death countless lives. Looking at

this spectacle, the rest of them, those who remain, believe

themselves to be permanent, immortal.'' Yudhishtra proved that

it was not enough to be valiant and intelligent but must be wise

and truthful too. Knowledge must mellow into wisdom in human

lives.

 

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