Post by jksivan on Sept 7, 2013 5:54:45 GMT 5.5
Dear Children
67 ''dry sandalwood''
When you read Mahabharath stories, you will come across two very famous names, Arjuna and Karna. Both were master archers and very talented in Dhanur vedha in selection and application of requisite arrows for specific purposes.
Unfortunately they were on the opposite sides.
They both did not know they were brothers. Karna was the eldest. As he was brought up elsewhere, he was not considered a Kshathriya, the warrior community, while Arjuna was the prince of Pandava clan. Karna was brought up by a charioteer in the employ of Dhuryodhana, the Kaurava king.
Possibly, Arjuna and Karna were both indifferent, disliking each other, as they were competitors everywhere, and so not friendly. At each and every opportunity they both vied with each other in proving their exceptional skills, to proclaim their superiority the other in archery. They therefore had to be egoistic each considering the other weaker than him.
Arjuna had the advantage of being Krishna's friend while Karna was dedicated to Dhuryodhana who recognised his valour, mastery in archery and bravery. Karna was therefore made a king. Karna had a special advantage. He was the greatest philanthropist, and a matchless charity giver well known to everyone.
Arjuna used to be uneasy whenever Krishna referred to Karna as the most generous, charitable minded and the generous philanthropist and none can equal him for his spontaneous help, kindness and love for people. Krishna intentionally or otherwise, always openly praised Karna for this good attitude of Karna, which irritated Arjuna.
One day Krishna and Arjuna were talking about something when suddenly Krishna brought in the name of Karna. '' I am yet to see a person who can be like Karna in giving whatever desired by others. Everyday he will eagerly wait for someone to enter his palace to ask for some charity and he would happily give whatever asked'' . He will be sad only if there are not enough people to receive something from him. ''
Arjuna could not tolerate this. He interrupted saying ''Krishna what do you think of my eldest brother Yudshishtra, the king of Pandavas? . Have not you seen people standing in large number for him to donate something every day? Probably you have not observed many cart loads of objects and differnt articles being donated by Yudhishtra every day to those needy people''
Krishna continued the thread, ''somehow, in my opinion Karna is an incarnation of Dharma Devta, because of his giving left and right everything he has to people who go to him in stream, asking for his charity.''
''Krishna, my brother Yudhishtra too is named ''Dharma'' because of his charities and donations, dont you know? Even now you can go and see whoever coming empty handed returning back with bags and boxes loaded with the desired articles after visiting Yudhishtra'
"'yes, Arjuna, I have seen, and yet ..''
'' yet, what??''
''yet I feel Karna cannot be compared to anyone..."'
Krishna suddenly left the place saying .'Tomorrow I shall come in the morning and let us continue this .''
The next morning Krishna came to Indraprastham and met Arjuna who was eagerly waiting for him.
''Arjuna, I have to go out on a mission, and would be happy if you too join me. Can you?''
''It is a pleasure Krishna to be with you always. It is my privilege''.
It was raining heavily that day also as in the last 4 days before, and they both unmindful of the cold weather, proceeded on their way.
Everyday, many people used to come to Yudhishtra's court with grievances to settle and were happy at the way their problems were solved by the learned king. In spite of the continuous rain, two brahmins also were waiting that day to meet the king. Yudhishtra was attending to all who had arrived, one by one and these two brahmins were also waiting for their turn to meet the king.
When they were before Yudhishtra, one of the brahmins asked ''Maharaja, you know for the last few days it is raining continuously and we have a special yagna to perform next week. We are in urgent need of enough dry sandal wood to offer in the Homagni (holy fire) by dozens of vedhic scholars and perform the special Homam. Wherever we tried we did not succeed and you are the one who can help us ''
''Wait here. I shall send for same'' said Yudhishtra and the two brahmins waited while the king sent men everywhere to look for dry sandalwood to be procured for them. After many hours the men returned saying there was no dry sandalwood available anywhere as everything was wet due to continuous rains. Yudhishtra therefore called the brahmins and asked them if he can offer any other dry wood other than sandalwood to burn in the yagna. The brahmins were disappointed. They had to use only the dry sandalwood for the specific Homam. If we needed anything else we shall be back to you our great king'' So saying, the two brahmins went away thanking the king.
The two brahmins were thinking on their way wondering what to do and how to solve their problem and for the next couple of days, they went to different places looking for the dry sandalwood. They reached a place where a palace was visible and they found a large number of people waiting in front of it.
''One of the brahmins asked some people there '' Why so many are waiting here, whose palace is this?''
''It is strange that you dont know the great Karna's palace here. We are waiting for meeting him to receive charities from him''
The two brahmins also joined them and waited for their turn to meet Karna, the great philanthropist and try their luck as very soon they have to perform the yagna and urgently needed the sandalwood. They were not much hopeful as no where dry sandalwood was available readily.
When they saw Karna seated before them one of the brahmins asked ''Prabhu, we have come to ask you to help us with some dry sandalwood for performfing our yagna in a couple of days, and wherever we looked for it they were wet and unfit for our purpose''
Karna too offered them seats and sent for someone to quickly fetch the dry sandalwood. They were disappointed to hear the messengers reporting back to Karna confirming non availability of dry sandalwood anywhere.
Karna did not show any disappointment on hearing them. He in fact smiled and got up from his throne. He called the brahmins into his palace rooms and showed them the sandalwood cots, windows and doors and other wood work and began breaking them to pieces and offered them more than enough of dry sandalwood for the Homagni.
Karna was very happy to help the brahmins and filled cart loads of dry sandalwood neatly packed protecting them from rain and sent with them. Before they left he asked the brahmins, if they needed more so that he can offer by breaking some thrones and wooden pillars in the palace which were made of sandalwood. The brahmins said they had already enough from him and did not require any more'' The brahmins blessed him and left.
When Krishna and Arjuna , (disguised as the two brahmins) were back in Indraprastham after their outing, Krishna found the other brahmin Arjuna silent and asked him '' Do you need me explain you any further my statement ''and yet... Karna is incomparable in his charity''
Arjuna nodded his in the negative, and was dumbfounded. His lips were murmuring ''Karna ... Karna.. you are rare and great...''
67 ''dry sandalwood''
When you read Mahabharath stories, you will come across two very famous names, Arjuna and Karna. Both were master archers and very talented in Dhanur vedha in selection and application of requisite arrows for specific purposes.
Unfortunately they were on the opposite sides.
They both did not know they were brothers. Karna was the eldest. As he was brought up elsewhere, he was not considered a Kshathriya, the warrior community, while Arjuna was the prince of Pandava clan. Karna was brought up by a charioteer in the employ of Dhuryodhana, the Kaurava king.
Possibly, Arjuna and Karna were both indifferent, disliking each other, as they were competitors everywhere, and so not friendly. At each and every opportunity they both vied with each other in proving their exceptional skills, to proclaim their superiority the other in archery. They therefore had to be egoistic each considering the other weaker than him.
Arjuna had the advantage of being Krishna's friend while Karna was dedicated to Dhuryodhana who recognised his valour, mastery in archery and bravery. Karna was therefore made a king. Karna had a special advantage. He was the greatest philanthropist, and a matchless charity giver well known to everyone.
Arjuna used to be uneasy whenever Krishna referred to Karna as the most generous, charitable minded and the generous philanthropist and none can equal him for his spontaneous help, kindness and love for people. Krishna intentionally or otherwise, always openly praised Karna for this good attitude of Karna, which irritated Arjuna.
One day Krishna and Arjuna were talking about something when suddenly Krishna brought in the name of Karna. '' I am yet to see a person who can be like Karna in giving whatever desired by others. Everyday he will eagerly wait for someone to enter his palace to ask for some charity and he would happily give whatever asked'' . He will be sad only if there are not enough people to receive something from him. ''
Arjuna could not tolerate this. He interrupted saying ''Krishna what do you think of my eldest brother Yudshishtra, the king of Pandavas? . Have not you seen people standing in large number for him to donate something every day? Probably you have not observed many cart loads of objects and differnt articles being donated by Yudhishtra every day to those needy people''
Krishna continued the thread, ''somehow, in my opinion Karna is an incarnation of Dharma Devta, because of his giving left and right everything he has to people who go to him in stream, asking for his charity.''
''Krishna, my brother Yudhishtra too is named ''Dharma'' because of his charities and donations, dont you know? Even now you can go and see whoever coming empty handed returning back with bags and boxes loaded with the desired articles after visiting Yudhishtra'
"'yes, Arjuna, I have seen, and yet ..''
'' yet, what??''
''yet I feel Karna cannot be compared to anyone..."'
Krishna suddenly left the place saying .'Tomorrow I shall come in the morning and let us continue this .''
The next morning Krishna came to Indraprastham and met Arjuna who was eagerly waiting for him.
''Arjuna, I have to go out on a mission, and would be happy if you too join me. Can you?''
''It is a pleasure Krishna to be with you always. It is my privilege''.
It was raining heavily that day also as in the last 4 days before, and they both unmindful of the cold weather, proceeded on their way.
Everyday, many people used to come to Yudhishtra's court with grievances to settle and were happy at the way their problems were solved by the learned king. In spite of the continuous rain, two brahmins also were waiting that day to meet the king. Yudhishtra was attending to all who had arrived, one by one and these two brahmins were also waiting for their turn to meet the king.
When they were before Yudhishtra, one of the brahmins asked ''Maharaja, you know for the last few days it is raining continuously and we have a special yagna to perform next week. We are in urgent need of enough dry sandal wood to offer in the Homagni (holy fire) by dozens of vedhic scholars and perform the special Homam. Wherever we tried we did not succeed and you are the one who can help us ''
''Wait here. I shall send for same'' said Yudhishtra and the two brahmins waited while the king sent men everywhere to look for dry sandalwood to be procured for them. After many hours the men returned saying there was no dry sandalwood available anywhere as everything was wet due to continuous rains. Yudhishtra therefore called the brahmins and asked them if he can offer any other dry wood other than sandalwood to burn in the yagna. The brahmins were disappointed. They had to use only the dry sandalwood for the specific Homam. If we needed anything else we shall be back to you our great king'' So saying, the two brahmins went away thanking the king.
The two brahmins were thinking on their way wondering what to do and how to solve their problem and for the next couple of days, they went to different places looking for the dry sandalwood. They reached a place where a palace was visible and they found a large number of people waiting in front of it.
''One of the brahmins asked some people there '' Why so many are waiting here, whose palace is this?''
''It is strange that you dont know the great Karna's palace here. We are waiting for meeting him to receive charities from him''
The two brahmins also joined them and waited for their turn to meet Karna, the great philanthropist and try their luck as very soon they have to perform the yagna and urgently needed the sandalwood. They were not much hopeful as no where dry sandalwood was available readily.
When they saw Karna seated before them one of the brahmins asked ''Prabhu, we have come to ask you to help us with some dry sandalwood for performfing our yagna in a couple of days, and wherever we looked for it they were wet and unfit for our purpose''
Karna too offered them seats and sent for someone to quickly fetch the dry sandalwood. They were disappointed to hear the messengers reporting back to Karna confirming non availability of dry sandalwood anywhere.
Karna did not show any disappointment on hearing them. He in fact smiled and got up from his throne. He called the brahmins into his palace rooms and showed them the sandalwood cots, windows and doors and other wood work and began breaking them to pieces and offered them more than enough of dry sandalwood for the Homagni.
Karna was very happy to help the brahmins and filled cart loads of dry sandalwood neatly packed protecting them from rain and sent with them. Before they left he asked the brahmins, if they needed more so that he can offer by breaking some thrones and wooden pillars in the palace which were made of sandalwood. The brahmins said they had already enough from him and did not require any more'' The brahmins blessed him and left.
When Krishna and Arjuna , (disguised as the two brahmins) were back in Indraprastham after their outing, Krishna found the other brahmin Arjuna silent and asked him '' Do you need me explain you any further my statement ''and yet... Karna is incomparable in his charity''
Arjuna nodded his in the negative, and was dumbfounded. His lips were murmuring ''Karna ... Karna.. you are rare and great...''