Father and Son.

[Guest guest]

Dear friends and devotees,

 

Bhakti is eternal.

 

Father and son.

 

Bharavi was a great Sanskrit poet who wrote one of the greatest classical

Sanskrit epics that was hailed as Mahakavya or great poetry. His epic was called

Kiratarjuniya or Arjuna and the mountain man. This epic talks of the great

warrior Arjuna and his battle with a savage mountain man, who then turns out to

be Lord Shiva. There are many interesting facts about Bharavi's life history.

Though no such biography of Bharavi exists, yet we find valuable information

about this Great poet in his works.

 

Intricate styles and very superior forms of expression characterized his style

of poetry. There is a chance that he may have influenced the 8th Century poet

Magha. It is estimated that Bharavi came from the South of India. He is said to

have flourished during the empire of King Durvinita and King Simhavishnu of the

Pallavan dynasty, which was a major empire and widespread in the south of India.

 

According to a popular hearsay the great Sanskrit poet was a child prodigy.

Everyone in the village praised him but not his father. Bharavi was very angry

with his father that his father never uttered a single word in his praise either

in private or in public. He complained the same to his mother saying his father

doesn't love him that is why he never appreciated his son's genius. His mother

consoled him saying that he was wrong and his father loves him very much. But

teenaged Bharavi was not to be convinced. So he decided to kill his father. One

evening he went on to the attic (a kind of Floor consisting of open space at the

top of a house just below roof; often used for storage) with a big stone. His

plan was to put the stone on his father's head as he comes in.

 

Late in the night, Bharavi's father reached home. As soon as he came in, he

enquired about Bharavi. His wife said that Bharavi must have gone to sleep by

now. Bharavi's father while washing his feet (as customary in India, for someone

comes from outside) was very happy to tell his wife that he heard scholars

talking about Bharavi in the bazaars, public places. He was very proud of his

son. For this, Bharavi's mother says the whole world is praising and you never

utter a single word in praise of him, bharavi is disappointed totally, he thinks

that you do not like him.

 

Then the father says, innocent woman, why should not I like him. He is my son,

after all. I am proud of him. When any one praises his genius, my heart fills

with joy. He is such a genius boy and we are lucky to have him as our son.

Hearing all this, Bharavi repents and falls on the feet of his father.

 

We behave like Bharavi's father. But there the story had a happy ending. But

in our lives when the same story is replayed, is there any guarantee that it

will have a happy ending unless this story is read by every son!

 

Father always loves his son; but not praise him with an intention that son

will still improve.

 

With love and regards,

 

Sastry