The Six Questions

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Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

 

 

The Six Questions

 

 

 

Acquisition of knowledge is always through the asking of questions. Most of the

significant inventions and discoveries that have revolutionised our lives were

the result of questions that arose in the minds of scientists or would-be

scientists. We are told that the child's brain expands exponentially from birth

to the fifth year--this again is reflected in the innumerable queries that

children pose to their parents and to whomsoever would listen.

 

 

 

In the spiritual sphere too, it is questions which have revealed to seers the

esoteric truths about themselves and their Maker. In fact, an entire Upanishad,

the Kenopanishad, is in the form of questions and answers thereto, which teach

us all that we need to know about the Lord and His attributes. The Upanishad

begins with the omnibus question as to who is the moving spirit behind the

activities of the mind, life spirit, speech, eyes and ears-

 

 

 

" Kena ishitam patati preshitam mana: kena praana: prathama: preti yukta:

 

Kena ishitaam vaacham imaam vadanti chakshu: shrotram ka u Devo yunakti " .

 

 

 

The rest of the Upanishad consists of the Acharya's enlightening responses to

these questions.

 

 

 

Another gem of the same genre is the Prasnopanishad, which too describes

illustrious disciples in search of the Paramatma, seeking enlightenment through

questions addressed to Pippalaada Maharshi. It is instructive to note that even

though the Maharshi is aware of the credentials of the seekers, still, he

advises them to perform penance for a year, and then come to him with their

queries. This is required, so that the receivers of knowledge appreciate its

value.

 

 

 

At the end of the prescribed period, Kabandhee, son of Kaatyaayana, queries

Pippalaada as to where all the creation stems from- " Bhagavan! Kuto ha vaa imam:

prajaa: prajaayante? "

 

 

 

Another guide book of instructions which was born out of questions is the

acclaimed Epic Srimad Ramayanam. It is in response to the pointed queries of Sri

Valmiki, seeking to know who was the sole repository of various virtues,

( " Konvasmin saampratam loke gunavaan kascha veeryavaan " ),that Sri Narada comes

out with the exalted Rama charitam.

 

Not only this, an entire chapter (100th Sargam of Ayodhya Kaandam), of about 75

slokas, is comprised of questions, put by Sri Rama to Bharata. These queries

relate to good governance, welfare of those near and dear, etc. Known as the

" Kacchit " Sargam, this chapter gives us a lot of information on how advanced the

system of administration and justice was, in the Kosala Rajyam.

 

 

 

We see thus that the Question has had an extremely important place in the spread

of knowledge, secular and spiritual.

 

 

 

However, are questions necessary? Shouldn't a wise man reveal to others all that

he knows unprompted, so that the spread of wisdom is quick and easy, without

waiting for someone to raise questions?

 

 

 

" Do not volunteer information, especially spiritual, without being asked

earnestly therefor " , say the Shastras, which are categorical that none should be

taught esoteric truths without an ardent yearning therefor, so that the pearls

of wisdom are not cast before swine of the spiritual sphere. No Acharya should

impart religious instruction without earnest and ardent questioning by a sincere

seeker. In a lighter vain, Upanyaasakas point out the case of Arjuna, to whom

Sri Krishna revealed all , without the former ardently seeking the same-at the

end, Arjuna tells Gitacharya that the elaborate discourse he had heard till then

was confusing, beseeching the latter to let him know in a nutshell what was good

for him.

 

 

 

And when you do have a substantial question as did the sages of Prasnopanishad,

how should you approach your Guru for enlightenment? The student should go to

the Acharya with all humility and an earnest desire to know. He should take the

Acharya an offering, however humble ( " Samith paanim shrotriyam Brahma

nishttam " ). And there is a time and place for questions-you should not interrupt

the teacher when he is in full flow, but should bide your time till he asks,

" Any questions? " This we learn from Swami Desikan's Nyaasa Vimsati, where he

emphasises that the sishya must ask questions, but at the appropriate

time- " Prasna kaala prateeksha: "

 

 

 

It is this spirit of inquiry, leading to remarkable revelations, that

characterises our scripture. Nowhere are we given concepts and asked to believe

in them axiomatically-questions are raised and logical answers furnished, which

strengthen our faith in the system and its tenets.

 

 

 

If you think that only Ramayana has a question and answer theme, you would be

mistaken. Even Sri Mahabharatam has several episodes of queries being put and

answers elicited, during which process several subtle points of Dharma emerge.

There are at least three of these sessions in which Yudhishttira figures. Twice

questions are asked of him and once he asks the questions.

 

 

 

Sri Mahabharatam narrates two occasions, where questions and answers thereto

played a crucial role in saving lives. Whether the person concerned would live

or die depended on the answers to the queries.

 

 

 

A huge python encircles Bhima, rendering even the mighty warrior incapable of

extricating himself. Dharmaputra arrives on the scene, to be told by the serpent

that unless he answered its questions truthfully and correctly, Bhima would

certainly be swallowed. With his fund of wisdom acquired from venerated sages,

Yudhishttira is able to reply to the python's queries satisfactorily and thereby

save Bhima.

 

 

 

On the second occasion, when all his brothers had been rendered unconscious for

defying a " Yaksha " , from whose pond they were trying to drink water, it is

Dharmaputra again who comes to their rescue, by furnishing enlightening and

informative replies to a series of questions posed by the Yaksha, which are

collectively known as the Yaksha Prasnam.

 

 

 

However, the best set of questions for which Yudhishttira is remembered, is of

course that in the Aanusaasinaka Parva of Sri Mahabharata. A perusal of the Epic

would reveal an endearing trait on the part of Dharmaputra-whenever the occasion

arises, whenever a sage or Maharshi is chanced upon, the scion of the Pandava

clan exhibits an insatiable thirst for wisdom and plies the venerated visitor

with pointed questions. Thus the eldest Pandava is a role model for all seekers,

intent on acquiring wisdom and availing all opportunities therefor.

 

 

 

Coming back to Yudhishttira's questions, these are addressed to the venerated

Bheeshma, who lies on a bed of arrows, awaiting the arrival of Uttaraayanam for

shedding his mortal coils. Six pointed questions are asked by Dharmaputra, who

is always focussed on ways and means for emancipation. If we look at these

questions closely, we find that they cover the entire gamut of all that is to be

learnt by a spiritual seeker, expecting as an answer no less than the Five

Fundamentals of spiritual wisdom, collectively known as " Arttha Panchakam " . It

is in reply to these six glorious questions that the entire Vishnu Sahasranama

Stotram unfolds, recounted with relish by the scholarly son of Saantanu.

 

 

 

" Who is the only Deity in this world? Which is the sole and supreme goal? Whom

should men adulate and adore to attain all that is good? Which Dharma is held by

you to be supreme amongst all? By reciting what does a person rid himself of the

shackles of Samsara? "

 

 

 

( " Kim ekam daivatam loke, kim vaapi ekam paraayanam

 

Stuvanta: kam, kam archanta: praapnuyu: maanava: subham

 

Ko dharma: sarva dharmaanaam bhavata: paramo mata:

 

Kim japan muchyate jantu: janma samsaara bandhanaat " )

 

 

 

These questions afford an opportunity for Sri Bhishma for singing the praises of

the Ultimate and result in the unravelling of the renowned Sri Vishnu

Sahasranama Stotram, which is held to be the highpoint of the entire

Mahabharatam, apart from the Bhagavat Gita. Besides being a comprehensive

compendium of the Lord's haloed names, the Sahasranama Stotram has the

distinction of enunciating rare philosophical truths, which a perusal of Sri

Parasara Bhattar's commentary would reveal. One must indeed appreciate

Dharmaputra for having known exactly what questions to ask, so as to elicit for

posterity a rare treasure like Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam. We often hear the phrase

" Million Dollar Question " -if ever there was a case of each question being worth

its weight in gold or diamonds, the six glorious questions of Yudhishttira

easily qualify for the top slot without competition.

 

 

 

Many public speakers or even teachers often dread the question-and-answer

sessions that usually form the concluding part of the programme.

 

It is easy to engage in a monologue, but unless you have a command of the

subject, it is infinitely more difficult to face pointed questions.

 

 

 

As a so-called specialist in Foreign Exchange, I used to be a Guest Faculty at

our Bank's staff training college. At the end of a session during which I found

the participants unusually docile and attentive, when I asked, " Any questions? " ,

a forest of hands went up. I was heartened at the response and mentally

congratulated myself on having mesmerised the audience with my oratorical

skills. All prepared to enlighten the trainees about the intricacies of Foreign

Exchange, I asked the gentleman in the front row to state his doubt. His query

was simple, straight-forward, apparently representative of the entire class and

also spoke volumes about the " attentive " audience- " Sir, when will this session

end? "

 

 

 

Srimate Sri LakshmiNrisimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana

Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

dasan, sadagopan