Guest guest Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 Dear Shri Ram Chandran, As suggested by you, I am giving below my article " Who is a Brahmana " . Incidentally, every one is addressing me as " Sastrigaru " , probably thinking that I am an Andhra. I am a Tamilian from Kerala. I do not know a word of Telugu. S.N.Sastri Who is a Brahmana? While the Pandavas were living in the forest, one day Bhima roamed about enjoying the magnificent natural scenery all around. Suddenly he found himself in the grip of a huge python which had coiled itself around his body. In spite of his tremendous strength Bhima was not able to extricate himself from the grip of the python. Just then Yudhishthira, who had set out in search of his brother, happened to reach that spot and was horrified to see Bhima's plight. He pleaded with the python to release Bhima, offering to get some other prey for it, but the python refused. The python then told Yudhishthira that it was, in its previous life, none other than Nahusha, an ancestor of Yudhishthira. He had become a python as the result of a curse on him by sage Agastya because in his overbearing haughtiness born of wealth and power he had insulted some Brahamanas. The python then offered to release Bhima if Yudhishthira was able to give proper answers to some questions that it would put to him. *The Crucial Test* * **Python:** *Who is a Brahmana and what is the truth that is worth knowing? *Yudhishthira: *A Brahmana is one who possesses the qualities of truthfulness, generosity, forbearance, good conduct, total absence of cruelty, self-control and compassion. * * The only truth that is worth knowing is the supreme Brahman, which is beyond joy and sorrow and by knowing which man becomes free from all feeling of incompleteness. *Python: *The qualities mentioned by you may be found even in a person who is a Sudra by birth. Can he also then be considered to be a Brahmana? As regards your statement that the truth that is worth knowing is free from joy and sorrow, I think there is no state which is free from these two. *Yudhishthira: *If the qualities such as truthfulness which I have mentioned are found in a Sudra and are not found in a Brahmana, that Sudra is not a Sudra and that Brahmana is not a Brahmana. O Python! That person should be considered a Brahmana in whom the qualities such as truthfulness exist and he who does not have such qualities should be considered a Sudra. As regards your statement that there is no state that is beyond joy and sorrow, that is no doubt correct as far as anything that is attainable by action (karma) is concerned. But just as water can never by nature be hot and fire can never by nature be cold, that truth which is attained by the removal of ignorance and is realized as non-different from oneself can never be touched by the joys and sorrows of this world. *Python: *If conduct is the test to decide who is a Brahmana, then birth loses significance in the case of a person whose conduct is not what a Brahmana's should be. *Yudhishthira: *In my opinion it is very difficult to decide on he basis of birth, because there is considerable admixture of castes nowadays. When a child is born certain sacraments are performed. Till the sacraments are performed and the boy is taught the Vedas he is only like a Sudra. Swayambhuva Manu also has said so. If even after the performance of sacraments and the study of the Vedas, the boy has not acquired good qualities and conduct, then it means that that there is strong admixture of castes in him. This is what has been decided after careful thought. I have already said that a Brahmana is one in whom good qualities and conduct have blossomed after the performance of sacraments. The python was very pleased with the answers given by Yudhishthira. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 Dear Sastri-Saab, That Saab is for a change since you are not a Garu! By the way what does Garu mean? I am asking this out of curiosity. You have called your post an article whereas it reads like a story. Is it your own story, i.e. if you have created the python-Pandava situation, or one found in Indian mythology/folklore? I liked the following profound statement of yours immensely: " But just as water can never by nature be hot and fire can never by nature be cold, that truth which is attained by the removal of ignorance and is realized as *non-different from oneself* can never be touched by the joys and sorrows of this world. " (Asterisks mine) PraNAms. Madathil Nair Garu (for a change again) _____________ advaitin , " S.N. Sastri " <sn.sastri wrote: > > Dear Shri Ram Chandran, > As suggested by you, I am giving below my article " Who is a Brahmana " . > Incidentally, every one is addressing me as " Sastrigaru " , probably thinking > that I am an Andhra. I am a Tamilian from Kerala. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 Dear Shri Nair, This is an episode from Mahabharata. I had mentioned so in my prev post. Unfortunately I am not able to trace immediately the original paper on which I had noted the Parva in which this appears. I shall trace it and let you know. I wish I had so much creativity to write a story like this, which only Vyasa could have done. Thanks for your appreciation. S.N.Sastri On 11/21/07, Madathil Rajendran Nair <madathilnair wrote: > > Dear Sastri-Saab, > > That Saab is for a change since you are not a Garu! By the way what > does Garu mean? > > I am asking this out of curiosity. You have called your post an > article whereas it reads like a story. Is it your own story, i.e. if > you have created the python-Pandava situation, or one found in Indian > mythology/folklore? > > I liked the following profound statement of yours immensely: > > " But just as water can never by nature be hot and fire can never by > nature be cold, that truth which is attained by the removal of > ignorance and is realized as *non-different from oneself* can never > be touched by the joys and sorrows of this world. " > > (Asterisks mine) > > PraNAms. > > Madathil Nair Garu (for a change again) > _____________ > > advaitin <advaitin%40>, " S.N. > Sastri " <sn.sastri wrote: > > > > Dear Shri Ram Chandran, > > As suggested by you, I am giving below my article " Who is a > Brahmana " . > > Incidentally, every one is addressing me as " Sastrigaru " , probably > thinking > > that I am an Andhra. I am a Tamilian from Kerala. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 I am asking this out of curiosity. You have called your post an article whereas it reads like a story. Is it your own story, i.e. if you have created the python-Pandava situation, or one found in Indian mythology/folklore? praNAms Hare Krishna No, it is not a creation of our Shastri prabhuji, this story appears in vana-parva of mahAbhArata...The story tells nahusha was a Kshatriya king. He has performed many yajnas & wanted to have the throne of Indra !! He has been cursed by rishi agastya coz. nahusha has kicked agastya with arrogance..it was one of the interesting stories in mahAbhArata. However I am not able to understand how this can be a reference to say ONLY guNa / attitude/conduct is determining factor in one's varNa when both birth & conduct are equally important......Anyway, I am not getting into unnecessary debates here... Hari Hari Hari Bol!!! bhaskar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2007 Report Share Posted November 21, 2007 Shastri gaaru sound better than Shastri shaab. We will make him Andhra even if he not one! Gaaru is like -ji. Who is a brahmana is also discussed extensively in Vijrasuuchi Upanishad. In Ch. Up - Uddaalaka says to Swetaketu who is already 12 years old and has not studied Vedas - My dear boy, in our family there is no one who is 'braahmana bandhu' since everyone has studied Vedas and Vedangas. So please go to gurukula as brahma chaari and learn all the Vedas. Essentially one who has not studied Vedas is called 'brahmana bandhu' - it must have been very derogatory meaning at that time - not a brahmin but related to others who are brahmins. Swetaketu listens to his father and goes and studies for 12 years and come back home, of course with a stiff neck! - sthabdaH. His father bends his pride showing he does not know the most important thing, knowing which everything is known. He makes him Brahmana. Hari Om! Sadananda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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