CULTURAL QA 04202417 Q1 Was Krishna aware of the Ramayana?
KR Is there a wonder in speaking about the earlier generations by the present generations that too in such voluminous Mahabharataham, that too one who studied anu sasana parva? Wasting time. How ever similarly not only Rama but others are also spoken about in Mahabharatham and quoted in B G and By Lord Krishna also. Hence without beating around the bush for filling up pages by silly Q and A, let there be better mission to accomplish as elderly. Or else like,” Incarnation in Hinduism and Christianity The Myth of the God-Man By Daniel E Bassuk <https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&sca_esv=d43f5111e59e559f&sca_upv=1&hl=en&sxsrf=ACQVn086O_09YZHrNizsGjrDL_CJmSc5lQ:1713362670277&q=inauthor:%22Daniel+E+Bassuk%22&tbm=bks> · 1987” wrote there is no mention of “avatar” as NOUN, but only “avatarana”, a verb kind like stuff, tried to spoil the Hinduism, thy shall be branded that way. Elders must not debate unnecessarily but have contents for the posterity and so, avoid wrong placements made by youth. The Mahabharata Book 12: Santi Parva Kisari Mohan Ganguli, tr.[1883-1896] “SECTION CCCXXXIX 339 1 Desirous of beholding Narayana, he began to reside there, attentively engaged in the silent recitation of mantras, sacred to him, and observant of vows of the most difficult kind, with concentrated mind, the regenerate Rishi, with arms upraised, stood in Yoga, and then sang the following hymn unto the Lord of the universe, Him, viz., who is at once the soul of attributes and divested of all attributes. "Narada said, Salutations to thee, O God of gods, O thou that art freed from all acts! Thou art he who is divested of all attributes, who is the Witness of all the worlds, who is called Kshetrajna, who is the foremost of all Beings, who is Infinite, who is called Purusha, who is the great Purusha, who is the foremost of all Purushas, who is the soul of the three attributes, who is called the Foremost, who is Amrita (nectar), who is called Immortal, who is called Ananta (Sesha), who is Space, 2 who is without beginning, who is both Manifest and Unmanifest as existent and not-existent things, who is said to have his home in Truth, 3 who is the first of gods (Narayana), who is the giver of wealth (or of the fruits of acts), identified with Daksha and other Lords of the Creation, who is the Aswattha and other big trees, who is the four-headed Brahman, who is the Lord of all created Beings, who is the Lord of Speech, 1 who is the Lord of the universe (or Indra), who is the all-pervading Soul, who is the Sun, who is the breath called Prana, who is the Lord of the waters (viz., Varuna), who is identifiable with the Emperor or the King, who is identifiable with the Regents of the several points of the compass, who is the refuge of the universe when it is dissolved in the final destruction, 2 who is Undisplayed (unrevealed), who is the giver of the Vedas unto Brahman, who is identifiable with the sacrifices and Vedic studies achieved by Brahmanas with the aid of their bodies, who is identifiable with the four principal orders of the deities, who is every one of those four orders, who is possessed of effulgence, who is possessed of great effulgence, who is he unto whom the seven largest offerings in sacrifices are presented with the Gayatri and other sacred mantras, who is Yama, who is Chitragupta and the other attendants of Yama, who is called the wife of Yama, who is that order of the deities called Tushita, who is that other order called Mahatushita, who is the universal grinder (Death), who is desire and all diseases that have been created for aiding the advent of Death, who is health and freedom from disease, who is subject to desire and passions, who is free from the influence of desire and passions, who is Infinite as exhibited in species and forms, who is he that is chastised, who is he that is the chastiser, who is all the lesser sacrifices (like Agnihotra and others), who is all the larger sacrifices (like those called Brahma, etc.), who is all the Ritwijas, who is the origin of all sacrifices (viz., the Vedas), who is fire, who is the very heart of all sacrifices (viz., the mantras and hymns uttered in them), who is he that is hymned in sacrifices, who takes those shares of the sacrificial offerings that are presented to him, who is the embodiment of the five sacrifices, who is the maker of the five sections or divisions of time (viz., day, night, month, season and year), who is incapable of being understood except by those scriptures that are called Pancharatra, who never shrinks from anything, who is unvanquished, who is only Mind (without a physical frame), who is known only by name, who is the Lord of Brahman himself, who has completed all the vows and observances *mentioned in the Vedas,* who is the Hansa (bearer of the triple stick), who is the Parama-hansa (divested of stick), who is the foremost of all sacrifices, who is Sankhya-yoga, who is the embodiment of the Sankhya philosophy, who dwells in all Jivas, who lives in every heart, who resides in every sense, whofloats on the ocean-water, who lives in the Vedas, who lies on the lotus (the image of the egg whence the universe has sprung), who is the Lord of the universe, and whose troops go everywhere for protecting his worshippers. Thou takest birth as all creatures. Thou art the origin of the universe (of all creatures). Thy mouth is fire. Thou art that fire which courses through the waters of the ocean, issuing out all the while from an Equine head. Thou art the sanctified butter that is poured into the sacrificial fire. Thou art the car-driver (fire or heat that impels the body and causes it to live and grow). Thou art Vashat. Thou art the syllable Om. Thou art Penances. Thou art Mind. Thou art Chandramas. Thou sanctifiest the sacrificial butter. Thou art the Sun. Thou art the Dikgajas (Elephants) that are sanctioned in the four cardinal points of the compass. Thou illuminest the cardinal points of the compass. Thou illuminest the subsidiary points also. Thou art the Equine head. Thou art the first three mantras of the Rig Veda. Thou art the protector of the several orders of men (viz., Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras). Thou art the five fires (beginning with Garhapatya). Thou art He who has thrice ignited the sacrificial fire called Nachi. 1 Thou art the refuge of the six limbs (viz., the Vedas). 2 Thou art the foremost of those Brahmanas that are employed in singing the Samans in sacrifices and other religious rites. Thou art Pragjyotish, and thou art he who sings the first Saman. 3 Thou art the observer of those vows that depend upon the Vedas and that are observed by singers of Samanas. Thou art the embodiment of the Upanishad, called by the name of Atharvasiras. hou art he who is the topic of the five foremost of scriptures (viz., those that appertain to the worship of Surya, of Sakti, of Ganesa, of Siva, and of Vishnu). Thou art called the preceptor that subsists only on the froth of water. Thou art a Valikhilya. 4 Thou art the embodiment of him who has not fallen away from Yoga. Thou art the embodiment of correctness of judgment of reasoning. Thou art the beginning of the Yugas, thou art the middle of the Yugas and thou art their end. Thou art Akhandala (Indra). Thou art the two Rishis Prachina-garbha and Kausika. Thou art Purusthuta, thou art Puruhuta, thou art the artificer of the universe. Thou hast the universe for thy form. Thy motions are infinite. Thy bodies are infinite; thou art without end and without beginning, and without middle. Thy middle is unmanifest. Thy end is unmanifest. Thou hast vows for thy abode. Thou residest in the ocean. Thou hast thy home in Fame,in Penances, in Self-restraint, in Prosperity, in Knowledge, in grand Achievements, and in Everything belonging to the universe. Thou art Vasudeva. Thou art the grantor of every wish. *Thou art Hanuman that bore Rama* on his shoulders. Thou art the great Horse-sacrifice. Thou takest thy share of offerings made in great sacrifices. 1 Thou art the grantor of boons, of happiness, of wealth. Thou art devoted to Hari., Thou art Restraint of the senses. Thou art vows and observances. Thou art mortifications, thou art severe mortifications, thou art very severe mortifications. 2 Thou art he who observes vows and religious and other pious rites. Thou art freed from all errors. Thou art a Brahmacharin. Thou tookest birth in the womb of Prisni. Thou art he from whom have flowered all Vedic rites and acts. Thou art unborn. Thou pervadest all things. Thy eyes are on all things. Thou must not be apprehended by the senses. Thou art not subject to deterioration. Thou art possessed of great puissance. Thy body is inconceivably vast. Thou art holy, thou art beyond the ken of logic or argument. Thou art unknowable. Thou art the foremost of Causes. Thou art the Creator of all creatures and thou art their destroyer. Thou art the possessor of vast powers of illusion. Thou art called Chittrasikhandin. Thou art the giver of boons. Thou art the taker of thy share of the sacrificial offerings. Thou hast obtained the merit of all sacrifices. Thou art he who has been freed from all doubts, Thou art omnipresent. Thou art of the form of a Brahmana. Thou art fond of Brahmanas. Thou hast the universe for thy form. Thy form is very vast. Thou art the greatest friend. Thou art kind to all thy worshippers. Thou art the great deity of the Brahmanas. I am thy devoted disciple. I am desirous of beholding thee. Salutations to thee that art of the form of Emancipation.'"{KR It is not beating around the Bush sir; one should know where is the root? Narayana, Vasudeva through Narada in Mahabharatham speaks; so, Lord Krishna speaking not only of Rama but all avatars are in Mahabharatham and even B G.} Bhishma continued, 'Having thus shown Himself unto Narada, the son of Parameshthi, the great God addressed that ascetic and said,-- He who transcends the twice twelve topics of enquiry and is regarded the Twenty-fifth, who is called by the name of Purusha, who is inactive, and who is said to be apprehended by Knowledge alone, He into whom the foremost of the regenerate persons enter and become emancipate. He who is the eternal Supreme Soul and is known by the name of Vasudeva. Endued with great puissance, Vasudeva is the Soul of all creatures. Earth, Wind, Space, Water, and Light forming the fifth, the primal elements of great puissance. He is known also by other names, viz., Sesha and Sankarshana. He that takes his rise, from that Sankarshana, by his own acts, Sanatkumara, and in whom all creatures merge when the universal dissolution comes, is the Mind of all creatures and is called by the name of Pradyumna. From Him (i.e., Pradyumna), arises He who is the Creator, and who is both Cause and Effect. From this last, everything, viz., the mobile and immobile universe, takes its rise. This one is called Aniruddha. He is otherwise called Isana, and He is manifest in all acts. 1 That illustrious one, viz., Vasudeva, who is called Kshetrajna, and who is freed from attributes, should, O king of kings, be known as the puissant Sankarshana, when he takes birth as Jiva. 2 From Sankarshana arises Pradyumna who is called 'He that is born as Mind.' From Pradyumna is He who is Aniruddha. He is Consciousness, He is Iswara (Supreme Lord). It is from me, that the entire mobile and immobile universe springs. It is from me, O Narada, that the indestructible and destructible, the existent and the non-existent, flow. Those that are devoted to me enter into me and become emancipated. I am known as Purusha. I shall then slay the son of Diti, named Hiranyaksha, filled with pride of strength. 1 Assuming the form then of a Man-lion (Narsingha), I shall, for benefiting the deities, slay Hiranyakasipu the son of Diti, who will be a great destroyer of sacrifices. Unto Virochana (the son of Prahlada) will be born a mighty son of the name of Vali. That great Asura will be unslayable in the whole universe consisting of deities, Asuras and Rakshasas. He will hurl Sakra from the sovereignty of the universe. When after routing the Lord of Sachi, that Asura will take unto himself the sovereignty of the three worlds, I shall take birth in Aditi's womb, by Kashyapa, as the twelfth Aditya. I shall (taking the sovereignty of the three worlds Vali) restore it to Indra of immeasurable splendour, and replace the deities, O Narada, in their respective stations. As regards Vali, that foremost of Danavas, who is to be unslayable by all the deities, I shall cause him to dwell in the nether regions. In the Treta age I shall take birth as Rama in the race of Bhrigu, and exterminate the Kshatriyas who will become proud of their strength and possessions. Towards the close of Treta and the beginning of Dwapara, I shall take birth as Rama, the son of Dasaratha in Iskshaku's royal line. At that time, the two Rishis viz., the two sons of Prajapati, called by the names of Ekata and Dwita, will in consequence of the injury done by them unto their brother Trita, have to take birth as apes, losing the beauty of the human form. Those apes that shall take birth in the race of Ekata and Dwita, shall become endued with great strength and mighty energy and will equal Sakra himself in prowess. All those apes, O regenerate one, will become my allies for accomplishing the business of the deities. I shall then slay the terrible lord of the Rakshasas, that wretch of Pulastya's race, viz., the fierce Ravana, that throne of all the worlds, together with all his children and followers. Towards the close of the Dwapara and beginning of the Kali ages, I shall again appear in the world taking birth in the city of Mathura for the purpose of slaying Kansa. "Bhishma continued, '1 have now repeated to thee the narrative that was recited by Narada (unto the conclave of Rishis assembled in the abode of Brahman). That narrative has descended from one person to another from very ancient times. I heard it from my sire who formerly repeated it to me.'" KR Thus all earlier avatars of 7 as well as that of 25 in Vaishnava Sampradayam are spoken by Lord; and so will any one be asking so foolishly, whether that Lord knows it etc? ------------------------------------------KR IRS 17424------- Q2 What are some interesting facts which are not commonly known? KR 1 interesting 2 not commonly known G I am sure all of you have been in lifts and almost every lift has a mirror in it. But have you ever thought why the modern lifts have mirrors unlike older lifts? KR Genius!!! Q3 Did Shakuni really cheat Yudhistir in the DICE game? If yes or no, how can you prove it? G: In short, you can take it as I am trying to compete with Mike Tyson in boxing. No doubt Mike will win and you can't call it cheating. KR Proof? Where? Any certificate from any university for SAKUNI? Now read SABHA PARVA HOW HE CHEATED AND I WILL ADD ANOTHER STORY FROM Bhattacharya at the end for recreation: I SECTION LXIV=55 "Sakuni said,--'Thou hast, O Yudhishthira, lost much of the Pandavas' wealth. If thou hast still anything that thou hast not yet lost to us, O son of Kunti, tell us what it is!" "Yudhishthira said,--O son of Suvala, I know that I have untold wealth. But why is it, O Sakuni, that thou askest me of my wealth? Let tens of thousands and millions and millions and tens of millions and hundreds of millions and tens of billions and hundreds of billions and trillions and tens of trillions and hundreds of trillions and tens of quadrillions and hundreds of quadrillions and even more wealth be staked by thee. I have as much. With that wealth, O king, I will play with thee." Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting unfair means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo, I have won!' 'Yudhishthira said,--'I have, O son of Suvala, immeasurable kine and horses and milch cows with calves and goats and sheep in the country extending from the Parnasa to the eastern bank of the Sindu. With this wealth, O king, I will play with thee. Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting unfair means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo, I have won!' Yudhishthira said,--'I have my city, the country, land, the wealth of all dwelling therein except of the Brahmanas, and all those persons themselves except Brahmanas still remaining to me. With this wealth, O king, I will play with thee.' Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo! I have won.' "Yudhishthira said,--These princes here, O king, who look resplendent in their ornaments and their ear-rings and Nishkas and all the royal ornaments on their persons are now my wealth. With this wealth, O king, I play with thee. Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with his dice, adopting foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo! I have won them.' "Yudhishthira said,--'This Nakula here, of mighty arms and leonine neck, of red eyes and endued with youth, is now my one stake. Know that he is my wealth.' Sakuni said,--'O king Yudhishthira, prince Nakula is dear to thee. He is already under our subjection. With whom (as stake) wilt thou now play?" Vaisampayana said,--"Saying this, Sakuni cast those dice, and said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo! He hath been won by us.' Yudhishthira said,--"This Sahadeva administereth justice. He hath also acquired a reputation for learning in this world. However undeserving he may be to be staked in play, with him as stake I will play, with such a dear object as it, indeed, he were not so!" Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo! I have won.' "Sakuni continued,--'O king, the sons of Madri, dear unto thee, have both been won by me. It would seem, however, that Bhimasena and Dhananjaya are regarded very much by thee.' "Yudhishthira said,--'Wretch! thou actest sinfully in thus seeking to create disunion amongst us who are all of one heart, disregarding morality.' "Sakuni said,--'One that is intoxicated falleth into a pit (hell) and stayeth there deprived of the power of motion. Thou art, O king, senior to us in age, and possessed of the highest accomplishments. O bull of the Bharata race, I (beg my pardon and) bow to thee. Thou knowest, O Yudhishthira, that gamesters, while excited with play, utter such ravings that they never indulge in the like of them in their waking moments nor even in dream.' "Yudhishthira said,--He that taketh us like a boat to the other shore of the sea of battle, he that is ever victorious over foes, the prince who is endued with great activity, he who is the one hero in this world, (is here). With that Falguna as stake, however, undeserving of being made so, I will now play with thee.'" Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo! I have won.' "Sakuni continued,--'This foremost of all wielders of the bow, this son of Pandu capable of using both his hands with equal activity hath now been won by me. O play now with the wealth that is still left unto thee, even with Bhima thy dear brother, as thy stake, O son of Pandu. "Yudhishthira said,--'O king, however, undeserving he may be of being made a stake, I will now play with thee by staking Bhimasena, that prince who is our leader, who is the foremost in fight,--even like the wielder of the thunder-bolt--the one enemy of the Danavas,--the high-souled one with leonine neck and arched eye-brows and eyes looking askance, who is incapable of putting up with an insult, who hath no equal in might in the world, who is the foremost of all wielders of the mace, and who grindeth all foes,'" "Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this, Sakuni, ready with the dice adopting foul means, said unto Yudhishthira. 'Lo! I have won.' Sakuni continued,--Thou hast, O son of Kunti, lost much wealth, horses and elephants and thy brothers as well. Say, if thou hast anything which thou hast not lost.' Yudhishthira, said--'I alone, the eldest of all my brothers and dear unto them, am still unwon. Won by thee, I will do what he that is won will have to do.'" Vaisampayana said,--"Hearing this Sakuni, ready with the dice, adopting foul means, said unto Yudhishthira, 'Lo! I have won.' 'Sakuni continued,--'Thou hast permitted thyself to be won. This is very sinful. There is wealth still left to thee, O king. Therefore, thy having lost thyself is certainly sinful.'" {KR Dice game is not chaturanga as one thinks of moving the chozhis. It is asking for a number which Saguni shall roll and vice versa. The Mahabharatha itself says CHEATING; not once or twice but by 9 times. AND THE KID WHO ADOPTED IT SAYS THERE IS NO CHEATING? KARKA KASADARA} ----------------------------------- And now bonus story: The Third Dice Game by Dr. Pradip Bhattacharya Mahabharata states that after Yudhishthir had lost everything in the first dice game, the repentant Dhritarashtra gave him back all that he had staked. When the Pandavas were returning to Indraprasth, Dhritarashtra - at Duryodhan's insistence - summoned them once again for another game of dice. Yudhishthir lost this second dice game too and, as its consequence, the Pandavs went into exile. What type of game did Shakuni and Yudhishthir play? They had no counter and no game-board. Either side would announce a stake and throw the dice. He whose throw was greater won. The dice-game chapter of the Sabha Parva (Book of the Assembly Hall) states that on each occasion after hearing Yudhishthir announce the stake, Shakuni cheated while throwing the dice exclaiming, 'I've won' every time. This makes it clear that with each throw of dice a turn of the game was complete. Many do not know that, a few days before the Kurukshetra war, Yudhisthir had played yet once more at dice with Shakuni. It is difficult to say why Vyas left this third dice-game chapter out of Mahabharata. One morning, twenty-five days before the Kurukshetra war, Yudhisthir was in his camp listening to Sahadev reading out the list of provisions when the guard announced, 'Dharamaraj, a well-dressed hunchback seeks audience. He will not give his name and says that his message is most secret, to be delivered only in person.' 'Bring him in at once,' said Yudhishthir. The visitor was old, with a crooked back, a wrinkled, clean-shaven face, a huge turban on his head, a blue necklace round his neck and wore a long shirt over loose pyjamas. Touching folded hands to his forehead he said, 'Hail to Dharmaraj Yudhishthir!' Yudhishthir asked him, 'Who are you, venerable one?' The visitor replied, 'Maharaj, forgive my impertinence, but my words are only for the royal ears.' Yudhishthir said, 'Sahadev, you may leave now.' Annoyed, Sahadev left plagued by a nagging suspicion. The visitor spoke softly, 'Maharaj, I am Subal's son Matkuni, Shakuni's step-brother.' 'What! You are our venerable maternal uncle! Pranam, pranam'how fortunate we are! Pray be seated on this lion-throne.' 'No Maharaj, this low seat suits me.' 'Alright, alright! Then sit on this jackal-skin covered seat. Now kindly state what brings you here. Uncle, I have not ever seen you earlier.' 'How would you, Maharaj! I live in secret. Moreover, the last thirteen years I have been abroad. My hunch does not permit me to follow Kshatriya mores. Therefore, I have acquired proficiency in magical arts. The divine architect Vishvakarma has blessed me with a boon. Eldest of Pandavs, I hear you are extraordinarily adept at gambling and the very heart of dice lies on your fingertips'. 'Hmmm' So people do say.' 'Yet you have been worsted by Shakuni. Do you know why?' Frowning, Yudhishthir said, 'Shakuni defeated me by cheating unrighteously.' With a lop-sided smile Matkuni responded, 'In dicing there's nothing like cheating and playing fair. The dice-game where both parties depend wholly on luck is termed 'fair'. If one player depends on luck and the other wins by his own efforts, then the defeated party usually complains of cheating. Dharmaraj, your luck lost to the dice thrown by Shakuni's prowess. If you take recourse to a mightier force, against Ravana use Rama, the goddess of dice will garland you alone.' 'Uncle, I fail to grasp your drift.' 'Son of Dharma! Listen to a secret: Shakuni's dice were made by me. Within it I have established a mantric power because of which its throw is infallible. Wicked Shakuni, having learnt the art from me, discarded me like an elephant excreting a wood-apple. He had assured me that, after exiling the Pandavas, Duryodhan would install me on the throne of Indraprasth. After you left for the forest, when I reminded Duryodhan of the promise he said, 'I know nothing. Speak to Uncle.' Shakuni said, 'What do I know? Go to Duryodhan.' Ultimately, these two despicable creatures using tricks and force consigned me to the dungeons of far-off Bahlik country. After thirteen years, somehow I managed to escape and have sought sanctuary with you. Dwarf-like I aspired for the Indraprasth-moon. Because I sought Indraprasth, I have suffered such calamity. After you are victorious, if you give me the Gandhar Kingdom by driving away Shakuni, I want nothing more.' 'As reward for the disaster piled on my head by your dice?' Matkuni quickly looked away and said, 'Please don't raise that topic again, Maharaj. Hear me out. I have received confidential information that Sanjay, sent by Dhritarashtra, is about to arrive here. Egged on by Duryodhan and Shakuni the blind king is summoning you once again to a dice game. Maharaj, do not let this great opportunity slip by'. Just then, the grinding of chariot wheels was heard. Matkuni anxiously said, 'There, Sanjay has arrived. I beg you, Maharaj, please do not reject Dhritarashtra's proposal out of hand. Say that you will reply later after considering the matter. When Sanjay has left, I will tell you everything. For the present, I am hiding in the next room.' After the usual formalities of enquiring after their welfare, Sanjay broached the reason for his arrival: 'O best of Pandavs, I am but the messenger, do not blame me. Dhritarashtra has said thus: 'Yudhishthir my son, the five of you are as dear to me as my hundred sons. It is my bounden duty to prevent this destructive fratricidal war at any cost. I am powerless, old and blind; my sons are disobedient and eager for battle. After racking my brains, I have decided that instead of violent armed confrontation it is the non-violent dice-game that can resolve the enmity of both parties. With great difficulty I have been able to get my sons and their friends to consent to this arrangement. Hence, come with all your dear ones to the Kaurav camp and once again engage in a throw of dice with the same stake as last time: the Kuru-Pandav Kingdom. If Duryodhan's representative Shakuni loses, the Kauravs will leave the kingdom with their retinue for the forests forever. If you lose, then you too will have to give up hope of kingdom and retire to the forest permanently. My son, do not fear deception. I will keep ready two sets of dice. You can with your own hands select one. Shakuni will play with the other dice.' 'What can be more unexceptionable than this arrangement? I anxiously wait to hear from Sanjay of your concurrence. My dear Yudhishthir, may your discrimination work for the welfare of your five brothers and saving the lives of eighteen akshauhinis along with the Kuru-Pandavs.' Yudhishthir said, 'Inform the Kuru monarch that he has put before me an extremely difficult problem. I will reply to him after carefully considering the matter. Now please rest and have food. Return tomorrow.' 'No, Maharaj, I have to return immediately. Rest is out of the question. Victory to Dharma's son!' Saying this, Sanjay took leave. Emerging from the side-door Matkuni said, 'Maharaj, your reply has been correct. Now listen carefully to my advice. This very afternoon dispatch a trusted emissary to Dhritarashtra without letting your brothers know. Your messenger will say, 'O venerable eldest uncle, your word is my command. Even though most detestable, I accept this third dice-game. I do not require your dice and will depend on my own. Shakuni too will play with his own. I also accept the stake you have proposed. Only one condition I beg you to accept: Shakuni and I will both play with only one dice each and the dice will be thrown only thrice. Whoever's cumulative throw is greater, will win.' Yudhishthir said, 'O Subal's son Matkuni, you are my maternal uncle by relation, but now it seems you are senile. How dare I challenge Shakuni once again? If you provide me with dice like Shakuni's, then the encounter will be between equals. But even then, where is the assurance of my victory? What is the reason for objecting to the dice arranged by Dhritarashtra? What is the intention behind restricting the game to three throws when the greater the number of throws the more the chance of accumulating greater numbers? And what is the proof that you are not Duryodhan's spy?' Matkuni replied, 'Maharaj! Peace ' be still! All your doubts shall I slice through. If you play with the dice chosen by Dhritarashtra, your defeat is inevitable. Cunning Shakuni will never play with that dice. Like a magician, by sleight of hand he will change it in a flash for his own and play only with that. I did not lie idle in the Bahlik dungeons so long. After tireless research, I have created a dice infused with even greater mantricpower. This new creation I will place in your hands. Shakuni's dice will become ineffectual the moment it nears this. Maharaj, there is not the slightest doubt about your victory. My instrument is most subtle. That is why throwing it too often in a single day is not permissible. Shakuni's dice, too, does not remain potent over a long period. That is why he will agree to your proposition with alacrity. For your victory, three throws are enough. The dice is with me. Test it out.' Matkuni took out an ivory dice from the bag at his waist. Yudhishthir noticed that the dice was like Shakuni's, equally well made with smooth faces, rounded at the edges, a tiny hole at the centre of each dot. Matkuni said, ' Maharaj, throw it thrice'. Yudhishthir did so. Every time the throw showed six. Surprised, he sought to inspect the dice, but Matkuni snatched it away and putting it back into his bag said, 'This mantra-infused dice is not to be handled unnecessarily as that affects its special powers.' Yudhishthir said, 'Your dice is dependable no doubt. But who will stand guarantee that you will not betray us?' 'My head is forfeit. Take me into custody from now on with two guards in constant attendance with drawn swords. Order them that if news of your defeat is received, they should behead me. Maharaj, now do you believe me?' 'I do. I will act upon your advice. Right now I'll dispatch a messenger to the Kuru King. You will reside in a secret place guarded by armed sentries. Neither Kuru nor Pandav will know of your whereabouts. If I win, you get Gandhar. If I lose, you die. Now, give me that dice.' 'Maharaj, if the dice remains with you, it will lose its special powers in the absence of proper care. Let it remain with me. I will constantly reinforce its mantric force and will hand it over to you before you depart. If you so wish, you can visit me daily to practice with it.' Yudhishthir said, ' Matkuni, your useless life is now at my mercy. But my brains, my kingdom, my dharma- all are in your hands. There is no way out for me but to listen to you.' With all royal panoply, the assembly hall sat down for the dice game. Dhritarashtra could not remain at peace. For observing what would happen, he came down to the Kaurav camp from Hastinapur for a couple of days. His faith in Shakuni's abilities was unbounded. He had not the slightest doubt regarding the victory of the Kuru camp. In the assembly hall after Krishna, Balaram, the five Pandavs, Duryodhan, his brothers and Dhritarashtra all had gathered together Bheeshma spoke: 'I condemn this gambling meet. But I am the Kuru monarch's servant. Hence, despite the utmost reluctance, I have to witness these shameful proceedings.' Dronacharya said, 'I am of the same opinion.' Bheeshma continued, 'Maharaj Dhritarashtra, it is necessary to ensure that no illegal or unfair deed in violation of the rules of dicing is committed in this assembly. I propose that Shri Krishna be appointed chairman to regulate the proceedings.' Duryodhan objected, 'Shri Krishna is in the Pandav camp.' Krishna said, 'What Duryodhan says is not untrue. Moreover, with my elder brother present, I cannot chair the meet.' Then, with the consent of everyone, Dhritarashtra appointed Balaram to the task. Balaram said, 'Why delay? Let the game begin. O assembled nobility, in this gambling match Shakuni on the Kaurav side and Yudhishthir on the Pandav side will play for their respective camps using only a single dice each. Each will cast the dice only thrice. The person who obtains the largest number of points will win. The stake of this gamble is the entire Kuru-Pandav kingdom. The loser will hand over the kingdom to the winner and, laying aside all warlike intentions, he will have to retire the forest with his party forever. Subal's son Shakuni, as the elder you shall have the first chance to cast the dice.' Happily, Shakuni made his throw and exclaimed, 'I win!' Immediately after falling, his dice was seen to roll a little and then remain still, showing six dots on top. Karna, Duryodhan and others shouted with delight, 'Victory is ours!' Balaram said, 'Yudhishthir, now it's your turn to play.' Yudhishthir's dice turned over once and remained steady. It, too, displayed six dots. Pandavs exclaimed, 'Dharmaraj's victory!' Balaram said, 'You're all making a lot of noise unnecessarily. No one has won. Both parties are equal.' Grimly Shakuni said, 'Still two throws are left. I'll win both.' The second time Shakuni's dice did not roll at all. It remained stationery after falling, showing five dots. Yudhisthir's dice showed six as previously. Shakuni noticed his dice was quivering. The Pandav camp roared exultantly. Rebuking them, Balaram said, 'Beware! Another shout and I'll evict you from the assembly.' Silence descended. With bated breath, every eye strained to see the final throw. a lump of mud ' a single dot! Yudhishthir threw six again. Balaram in a voice grim as thunder announced, 'The victory is Yudhisthir's.' At that moment, everyone noticed with amazement that the dice cast by Yudhishthir was making tiny hops, inching towards Shakuni's dice. The assembly burst into uproar ' 'Maya! Magic! Illusion! Hypnotism!' Duryodhan flinging his arms and legs about shouted, 'Yudhisthir has cheated! We do not accept his victory. Does any decent man's dice ever move about?' Balaram declared, 'I will inspect the dice of both parties.' Yudhisthir immediately picked up his dice and handed it over to Balaram. Shakuni closed his fist around his and said defiantly, 'I will not allow anyone to touch my dice.' Balaram frowned and said, 'As Chairman of this assembly, my directive has to be obeyed.' Shakuni sneered in reply, 'I am not bound to obey you.' Administering a resounding slap on Shakuni's cheek and snatching away his dice Balaram said, 'O assembled people, I shall break open these dice and find out what is inside them.' Saying this, he split open both dice by throwing them on a stone platform. >From Shakuni's dice a tiny beetle emerged, moving its pincers feebly as if on the verge of death. >From Yudhisthir's dice a small lizard came out and immediately attacked the beetle. The assembly was agitated like a storm-tossed ocean. Anxious, Dhritarashtra demanded to know what was happening. Balaram informed him, 'Nothing much. There was a beetle in Shakuni's dice' 'And it's bitten someone?' enquired Dhritarashtra anxiously, 'How terrible!' 'Not bitten anyone, Maharaj. It was inside Shakuni's dice. This insect is extremely intractable and cannot be overturned or turned on its side. If kept inside a dice, it turns it over to remain upright. From Yudhisthir's dice a lizard emerged. This creature is even more obstinate. Brahma himself cannot upturn him. Smelling the lizard, the beetle was paralysed with fear. That is why Shakuni failed to get his desired throw.' Dhritarashtra asked, 'Then who won?' 'Yudhisthir' Balaram replied, 'Both parties used false dice. Hence, one cannot raise the objection of cheating.' Yudhisthir then took Balaram aside and narrated the Matkuni matter. Balaram told him. 'You need not feel embarrassed. The use of false dice is permitted by the rules of gambling.' With supreme indifference Yudhisthir primly stated, 'Plough-wielder, you are a mighty hero but ignorant of the scriptures. Lord Manu has prescribed that dyuta is that which is played using objects, while that which is played with living creatures is calledsamahavya. Kururaj had summoned me for dyuta of unliving things but, unfortunately, living creatures have emerged from our dice. Hence this contest is vitiated.' Karna clapped enthusiastically and said, 'Dharmaraj, your name is truly well-deserved.' Balaram announced, 'Dharmaraj's knowledge of scriptures is vast, although he is somewhat deficient in practical sense. I accept that this contest stands vitiated. In that case, the earlier match is also void for Shakuni had used the beetle-containing dice there too. Kururaj Dhritarashtra, because of your brother-in-law's unrighteous conduct, in violation of scriptural prescription, the Pandavs have unnecessarily had to suffer exile for thirteen years. Now return them their paternal kingdom, otherwise hell definitely awaits you in the next life.' Excitedly Yudhisthir exclaimed, 'I don't wish to hear anything. I am disgusted with everything to do with dicing. We will win back our kingdom only by war. Elder uncle,pranam, I am leaving.' The Pandavs then left for their camp with exultant shouts. Krishna and Balaram accompanied them. After returning Yudhisthir said, 'My first duty is to free Matkuni. This unfortunate fool's entire effort has gone waste. Come, let's comfort him.' A little before this news had reached the Pandav camp that something had gone seriously wrong in the dice-game assembly hall. When Yudhishthir and the rest reached the prison, the two sentries were arguing whether Matkuni's head should be lopped off or whether, for the present, chopping off his nose would do. Having heard everything from Yudhisthir, Matkuni beat his head and wailed, 'No, I find everywhere it is fate that prevails! I overfed the lizard to make it strong. That is why that ungrateful creature jumped about and ruined me. Balaram somehow saved the situation, but Dharmaraj had to mess it all up by quoting scripture. What is the use of freeing me when Duryodhan is bound to kill me?' Balaram said, 'Matkuni, you need not worry. Come with me to Dvaraka. There, in an ashram of non-violent ascetics, innumerable utkine-mutkin-mashk-mushik etc. are served daily. I will make your head and you'll be able to spend your time happily ever after engaging in ever new research.' 14-Apr-2002 -------------------------------------------------------- K RAJARAM IRS 17424 ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty <[email protected]> Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2024 at 23:27 Subject: CULTURAL QA 04-2024-17 To: Patty Thatha <[email protected]>, Kerala Iyer < [email protected]>, Iyer <[email protected]> *CULTURAL QA 04-2024-17* *All the BELOW QA are from Quora digest to me on 17-04-2024.* * Quora answers need not be 100% correct answers * *.Compiled **and posted by R. Gopala krishnan, on 16-04-2024* *Q1 Was Krishna aware of the Ramayana?* *A1 Shyam Jha, Programmer, explorer Mar 17* *Yes Krishna was fully aware of the Ramayana. Here are few instances from Mahabharat that confirms it.* *When Rajsuyagya Shishupal questions why Krishna was chosen for agrim Puja. Bhishma explained all avatars Krishna had previously taken including Ramavtar to all Kings who were present there.* *In chapter 10 of Bhagavadgita Krishna mentioned - among bearers of arms I am Shree Ram.* *At the end of Kurukshetra war, when Duryodhana hides himself in a Pond, Krishna suggest Yudhishthira to use tricks instead of force to bring him out of pond. For this Krishna gives examples of many previous battle were tricks were used to defeat opponents. Among the example he also mentioned example of How Shree Ram defeated Ravan.* *When Yudhishthira is mourning the death of relatives Krishna tells him story of conversation between a king Sanjaya and Naradmuni where Naradmuni tells King about Shree Ram and His Kingdom.* *Q2 What are some interesting facts which are not commonly known?* *A2 Anubhav Prakash ,Pursuing BS-MS Dual Deg Physics IITM, AIR 1772 in JEE Adv'20Updated 1y* *I am sure all of you have been in lifts and almost every lift has a mirror in it. But have you ever thought why the modern lifts have mirrors unlike older lifts?* *Initially when elevator was invented, it didn’t had any mirrors. But as the engineering world developed and buildings started to grow taller and taller in height. Lift users started to complain that the lift is moving too slow and it takes a lot of time to reach to the higher floors.* *Now, from the perspective of engineering, there is only a certain safe speed up to which the speed of lift can be increased, but even at that speed the complaints from the users didn’t stop. To solve the issue, the engineers came with a great idea of placing mirrors in the lifts. And this actually stopped the complaints.* *Why? Because the mirror was now causing distraction for the users. People would look at themselves, get their hair and dress right. People now had something to look at and be occupied rather than looking at the boring lift walls all the time they are in the lift.* *And this was the main reason why mirrors were placed in the modern lifts.* *For the same purpose of causing distraction, you might have seen transparent lifts with glass doors or glass walls or lifts with grilled collapsible doors, like these below.* *{Yes glass lifts hanging from the building are not just for Captain America to jump out from}* *Luckily, mirrors in the lift are also useful for claustrophobic people as mirrors give an illusion of a larger space. In Japan, the mirrors are also included for safety purposes, for avoiding theft, and also to help Physically disabled people in wheelchairs. Since the space in some lifts are not enough to allow a person in wheelchair to turn, the mirrors help them see behind and safely move out.* *Q3 Did Shakuni really cheat Yudhistir in the DICE game? If yes or no, how can you prove it?* *A2 Nilabh Verma, Founder - DharmSansar.com (2009–present)Updated 1y* *Shakuni never cheated**. There is no such mention in the original Vyas Mahabharat. Making dice from his father's bone, supernatural dice, etc. are mentioned in later translations of the epic. Also nowadays TV serials based on Mahabharat show wrong information, just to make it so dramatic.* *In the original Vyas Mahabharat, it's mentioned that Shakuni was extraordinary in the Dice game. He had such control over the game that he could call any number he wants. Even nowadays you will find few people so expert in Ludo (the modern version of Dice) who can call any number they want (most of the time). So basically it was not a fair play between an extremely expert Shakuni and an amateur Yudhishthir.* *I agree that Shakuni shouldn’t have been played on behalf of Duryodhana as it was originally a contest between Yudhishthira and Duryodhana. But we should also not forget that it was Yudhisthira who, even warned by Vidura and Bhishma, eventually allowed Shanuki to participate. Yes, Shakuni's intention was not at all right but you can't call him a cheater in this case.* *In short, you can take it as I am trying to compete with Mike Tyson in boxing. No doubt Mike will win and you can't call it cheating.* *Q4 What is your opinion on passengers who refuse to give up their seats on a plane for families to sit together?* *A4 Anil Roongta, Former Member at Consumer Court1h* *I have often seen this question.* *There is this person who plans his travel well in advance. He books his ticket and chooses his seat. It’s a long flight and he wants a comfortable, hassle free journey.* *Now there is this family who is also travelling in the same flight. They haven’t done proper planning and they have been allotted seats in such a way that they can’t sit together. And they request this passanger to swap seats so that the family could sit together.* *And if this passanger refuses, he will be called as rude. Why? Just because he planned his journey well in advance?* *In most cases, such requests by a family is unjustified and a passenger is well within his rights to refuse it.* * In case of any emergency, the request could be entertained. But nobody can demand a change of seat.* *Q5 What is the funniest joke you've been told that you still think about to this day?* *A5 Norman Allen,17h* *Three guys are waiting in a very long line to hopefully get through the Pearly Gates, when St. Peter comes down the line, and starts talking to people in front of them. Pretty soon St. Peter approaches them and says “Today has been a really busy day at the Gates, so I’m letting people go back to Earth for a month, and they can be anything they want to be.”.* *A month later two of the guys are back in line at the Pearly Gates. The one asks the other what he did during his month on Earth, “Well, I was a deer in the mountains, with meadows, streams and lakes, it was so peaceful. What did you do?”. “Why I was an eagle, soaring over the mountains, meadows lakes, and streams, it was exhilarating!”.* *When they got to the Pearly Gates they both wanted to know what happened to the third guy, who was not there. St. Peter said “He wanted to be a stud, so he’s somewhere in Michigan on a tire, we’ll get around to him later.”.* -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/2008024736.75103.1713328067918%40mail.yahoo.com <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/2008024736.75103.1713328067918%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> . -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZop243Z1_GHrZW35p16CiC1c4JSuDXHMvh1GvV_W25q33w%40mail.gmail.com.
