Mahabharata Adiparva

Chapter About Sadguru Prabhuji

Sadguru M.Narasimha Prabhu

The words in this book are written by me, but the meaning came from the teaching of my Guru. Words fail to express my gratitude to my Guru, who is compassion personified.

One can never repay the debt owed to Guru. It is only by carrying forward the teaching, can one repay that debt.

I dedicate my study of Mahabharata as a humble offering to him.

Guruji is the founder of Light of the Self foundation, Bangalore, India.

Guruji’s recorded talks are available online at http://www.youtube.com/user/AtmajyothiSatsang/videos.

Guruji’s website is at http://www.atmajyothi-satsang.org and http://www.lightofself.org

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Chapter Preface

I have recorded my study of Mahabharata first chapter Adiparva in this ebook.

Mahabharata is history of India, an epic war that ended one era and ushered in the current era. It is a story of what is Dharma, what is right or wrong. Characters of all shades of human psychology and emotions appear in this book. It is a case study of all types of personalities and situations. This book is the first chapter ‘Adiparva’ of Mahabharata a.k.a Jayakavya. Mahabharata was originally written by Sage Veda Vyasa. I tried to study it and made some comments according to my understanding.

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Chapter Time is Awake

(2009-08-14 10:15)

AdiParva Section-I

Om! Having bowed down to Narayana and Nara, the most exalted male being, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word Jaya be uttered. On the auspicious day of SriKrishna Janmashtami Aug-14-2009 I am uttering the word ’Jaya’ .

I will be writing on Jayakavya also known as Bharata from today, being blessed for this effort by Prabhuji. I will be writing in a jumbled up manner, not particularly sticking to the order of passages. I will stick to the order of chapters.

In ancient days, Celestial beings weighed Bharata against four Vedas in a balance and Bharata weighed heavier in wisdom than four Vedas put together on a balance. Hence it is called Mahabharata. Knowing the wisdom of Mahabharata, one gets freed from all sins.

Yudhistir (Dharma) is a vast tree, consisting of religion and virtue. Arjuna (mind) is its trunk. Bhima (Karma) are its branches. Nakula (Viveka) and Sahadeva (Vairagya) are the fruits and flowers of this tree. SriKrishna (Atman, Paramatman), Brahma, Brahmanas are the roots of this tree.

Tapa (Trying, searching- burning negative tendencies) is a spiritual practice, Swadhyaya (study of scriptures - study of one’s own nature) is essential, Karma (Acton - selfless service - yagna) is essential. But, how we practice them is Important. When they are misunderstood or practiced without the guidance of enlightened wisdom, then it becomes downfall for the practitioner or society. Use wisdom wisely.

Dhritarashtra grieves for the loss of sons, and kingdom, and tells Sanjaya that he wants to die. Sanjaya advices him against it and says the following,

Do not grieve for what has to happen. Nobody can escape fate. Time (Kaala) is the root of all existence and nonexistence, Pleasure and pain. Kaala creates and destroys entire universe. Kaala burns creatures and it is the same Kaala that puts out the fire. The three worlds Bhu (waking), bhuvah (dream), suvah (deep sleep) are created by Kaala. Good and bad is created by Kaala. It is Kaala alone that is AWAKE when all things are asleep. One cannot surpass Kaala. Kaala is catalyst while it passes over the things. Past, present, and future are offspring of Kaala.

My addition to the above:

In Bhagavad-Gita SriKrishna says,Kaalosmin bharatarshaba, loka kshayakridbhaavo meaning, I am Kaala, who has decided to destroy all the worlds now.

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Chapter Three types of spiritual students

(2009-08-15 03:38)

AdiParva Section-III Paushya parva

There was a Rishi named Ayod-Dhaumya, who had three students Aruni, Upamanyu, and Veda.

How Aruni got enlightenment:

Dhaumya asked Aruni to go to field and stop the breach of water-course. Aruni went to the field, tried all sort of things to do the bidding of his master. Having failed in all means, and thought a way out and he at last put himself against the breach and stopped the flow of water.

Dhaumya called aloud his name and Aruni got up, thus releasing the water. Aruni said, Sir I have put myself against the breach and protected the water, only after hearing your order, I got up and let the water escape. Dhaumya was very pleased with this, and said, since you let the water escape, you should be renamed as ’Uddalaka’. Dhaumya granted Aruni wisdom and all the knowledge of Vedas.

Probable meaning of the above Para:

For students like Aruni, one instruction of Guru is sufficient to arrest the water (mind, thoughts) and enter into savikalpa samadhi. Aruni has tried so many things and was finally successful. On Guru’s calling he let the waters flow out again and empted his mind. Then Guru’s Grace flowed and wisdom has been given to him thus enabling him to become wise.

How Upamanyu got enlightenment:

Dhaumya orders Upamanyu to tend to cattle. Upamanyu does Guru’s bidding and also goes begging for alms and feeds himself. Then Dhaumya corrects him, and tells him that without offering to Guru he should not eat. Upamanyu, next day brings back the alms to Guru, but goes begging second time to feed himself. Again Dhaumya corrects him and tells him not to beg again as that would deprive another beggar. Upamanyu, then feeds on the milk of cows that he is tending to. Again Dhaumya corrects him, and tells him not to deprive calf of the milk. Upamanyu, then tastes the leftover froth, after calves drink their milk. Again Dhaumya corrects him not to take anything. Upamanyu, being hungry eats arka leaves and becomes blind and falls into a well. Then Dhaumya instructs him to invoke Aswani devatas for cure. Upamanyu sings the praises of Aswani devatas using Rig-Veda hymn like below,

O Aswins, I desire to obtain you by sravana (listening to Guru’s words), nidhidhyasana (meditation on Guru’s words). Ignorant people think that you have a form. Day and night, two paths one for devas (elevated path) and one for pitrs (Returning path) are decided by you. 360 cows (days) produce one calf (samvatsara, year, or time or Kaala). That calf is the creator and destroyer of all. Seekers of truth use this calf to milk the cows. You are supreme Brahman, you created the five elements, all colors, all objects, all gods. You are the father, mother and infant. Please liberate me.

Aswins become pleased with his prayer and appear and offers him a cake. Upamanyu refuses to accept it without offering to his Guru. Aswins are further pleased with this and restore his eyesight. Upamanyu goes back to his guru and narrates all this. Dhaumya then grants Upamanyu wisdom and knowledge of Vedas.

Probable meaning of the above Para:

Upamanyu was taking instructions from his Guru, but also exploring with other Gurus (begging outside). Dhaumya asked him to tend to cattle (read scriptures), but he went and begged outside. After pointed out this folly, Upamanyu stopped that, but he started self study of scriptures without proper guidance (drinking milk of cows). After correcting this, he again was following instructions meant for others (taking the leftover froth from the mouths of calves or Upanishads). After correcting this, he experimented without proper guidance, got wrong knowledge, got blinded and fell into ditch (eating arka leaves, and falling into ditch). Thats when Guru took pity on him, and showed his grace by showing him a path to get out of blindness and the ditch. Having realized his follies, Upamanyu did exactly as Guru instructed and then refused to take the result offered by Aswins without offering to Guru (cross verifying with Guru as to the correctness of knowledge). Thus he got enlightened.

How Veda got enlightenment:

Dhaumya asks Veda to hang around in his proximity and in his house for a very long time and do whatever he says.

Veda served his master with shradda (faith, devotion), and worked like an ox to do whatever his master bade him to do. Very soon his master Dhaumya is pleased with him and granted him wisdom.

Probable meaning of the above Para:

Self explanatory. This type of student is one who needs to do lot of karma with faith in Guru.

Guru’s compassion and Grace are one and same on all three types of students. We need to keep in mind the pitfalls that awaits any sadhaka as mentioned in story of Upamanyu, work like ox on Guru’s instructions like Veda with faith, and be innovative like Aruni.

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Chapter Utanka - 4th type of student: Gurudakshina

(2009-08-17 06:47)

AdiParva Section-III Paushya parva contd...

Veda, student of Dhaumya, after taken leave of his preceptor, lived his life as a teacher. He had a student named Utanka.

Once Veda went out of station to attend a Yajna, he appointed Utanka as head of his house and said ’do the needful’.

Utanka has been faithfully discharging his duties, when females of the house saidDischarge your duties to the mistress of the house as a husband in the absence of her husband. To which Utanka said"My master has asked me to do what