Three Kings, One Journey

The King Who Fell from Heaven
Yayati was a great king of the Chandra Vamsha who ruled with dedication and performed great charity. His punya earned him the rare privilege of sharing Indra’s throne in Swarga.

Indra was miffed. He, the king of the gods, had to sit with a mere mortal!

He begged Guru Brihaspati for a way to remove Yayati from the throne.

Next day in court, Indra asked Yayati:

“Tell us how you came to be here.”

Yayati began recounting his achievements.

"I have performed great sacrifices. I donated lot of wealth in charity. I fed the poor, helped the needy and cared for my subjects…."

As he continued, Yayati started slipping, little by little, from the throne.

Indra posed one final question.

"Yayati, who in this world can equal you in generosity?"

"No one!" declared Yayati. "There is none to match me!"

Now, Yayati was thrown completely off the throne and began falling from heaven.

He begged that he should land somewhere in the company of noble souls.

He fell at the spot where the sage Ashtaka was performing a yajna. Later, his daughter’s son Pratardana instructed him in the path of sharanagati — surrender at the lotus feet of Lord Narayana.

What Do I Own?

King Raghu of the Ikshvaku dynasty was renowned for his generosity.

Once, he performed the great Viśvajit sacrifice and gave away all his wealth, emptying his treasury completely, keeping just a few earthen pots for his use.

One day, two people passed by just as he finished sandhyavandana with those pots.

"Look at Raghu Maharaja! He has given away everything. Who can equal his generosity?"

Raghu was angry.

"Why do you say such things?"

"Maharaja, you have given away all your wealth. Surely, you deserve to be praised!"

"Am I the owner of all these things? Does anything truly belong to me? Is not everything the property of God? If I have given some of it to others, why should I be called a great donor?"

The two men fell silent.

The King Who Renounced

Once a king approached a guru.

"Acharya, I wish to renounce the world. Please accept me as your disciple.”

"You talk of renunciation, but you are still wearing your crown. Go back. Return when you are ready."

The king returned.

But the guru again refused, giving no reason.

The disappointed man went into the forest and began living under a tree, spending his days in meditation.

One day, the guru passed by. He called out, "O Rajan!"

No response.

Next day, the guru passed by again, calling out, "O Tyagi!"—O renunciant!

No response.

The man under the tree did not turn towards the guru, nor did he claim the title of renunciant.

Now the guru accepted the disciple.

Yayati teaches us not to be proud of the good we do.

Raghu reminds us that we are only custodians of what God has entrusted to us, not its true owners. 

The renunciant king shows us that even the identity of being a giver-up must be given up.

Indra cannot tolerate someone sharing his throne.

Sriman Narayana on Adisesha is waiting to welcome us to Srivaikuntha.

As Swami Ramanuja explains, He is “Achyuta” (अच्युत), “the One who never allows His devotees to fall.”

Note: The Yayati story appears in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata. The Raghu and renunciant king story are based on stories narrated in the pravachan of Malook Peeth Shri Rajendra Das ji Maharaj.

The Arrow That Waited for Rama

Ravana turned to his ministers.

“Tell me, who in these three worlds is more powerful than I am?”

One minister hesitantly replied, “Maharaja, King Raghu of the Ikshvaku dynasty is renowned for his valour. His power comes from his wife’s extraordinary chastity and devotion.”

Determined to defeat this rival, Ravana approached Raghu, who was performing his evening prayers by the Sarayu River. He bowed and asked to become his disciple.

During the Aghamarshana rite, Raghu perceived a lion attacking a brahmin’s only cow in southern Bharatavarsha. The desperate brahmin wished that Raghu were there to save it. Without leaving his place, Raghu flung the consecrated water southward, killing the lion and saving the cow.

Ravana was astonished at this ability.

A few days later, he invited Raghu to Lanka. With a twig, Raghu drew a detailed map of the city on the ground, identifying its gates, palaces and trees. Ravana was shocked to realize that Raghu knew his city without visiting it ever.

As he moved, Raghu’s hand accidentally brushed against a corner of the drawing.

“Oh! What have I done? Ravana, a part of your Lanka has been lost!”

Ravana stared. “What do you mean?”

“The part my hand brushed has sunk into the sea. Go and see for yourself.”

Ravana returned to Lanka and discovered that Raghu had spoken the truth. His admiration of Raghu turned first into fear, then into hatred.

Remembering that Raghu’s power was linked to his wife’s chastity, Ravana disguised himself as Raghu and entered her chambers. She recognized him immediately.

“You may imitate his appearance, Ravana, but you cannot imitate his conduct or character!”

Raghu was furious. “You came to me as a disciple, and I welcomed you. You have betrayed my trust. I shall kill you!”

He raised his bow and fitted an arrow to the string. Brahma intervened, revealing that Lord Vishnu would incarnate as Rama in Raghu’s lineage to destroy Ravana. Since the consecrated arrow could not be withdrawn, Brahma promised to preserve it for Rama.

Years later, Ravana obtained that very arrow from Brahma as a boon and concealed it inside a pillar in his private chambers, believing he had outwitted destiny.

When Rama invaded Lanka to rescue Sita, his arrows failed to kill Ravana. Vibhishana revealed that Ravana could be slain only with Raghu’s ancient arrow.

Hanuman entered Lanka disguised as a young brahmin and approached Mandodari, who feared for her husband’s life.

“Please bless my husband! Rama is no ordinary warrior,” she pleaded.

“Why fear, Devi? Is not the arrow safe?”

“Yes! No one can kill Ravana without it.”

“Then worship it with flowers, sandalwood paste and akshata,” Hanuman advised.

Mandodari hurried to the pillar concealing the arrow and performed the worship. As she left, Hanuman transformed into a tiny fly and followed her. Once she was gone, he resumed his enormous form, smashed the pillar and retrieved the arrow.

Rama fitted the arrow to his bow and released it.

The arrow meant for Ravana had finally reached its destined mark!

Ravana’s pride, jealousy and lust led to his destruction. Raghu’s spiritual power, his wife’s pativrata dharma, and Hanuman’s wisdom remind us that when strength is rooted in dharma and surrendered to the Divine, it becomes invincible. No power or cunning can prevail against the will of the Lord, for ultimately, where dharma prevails, the Lord’s grace prevails.

Note: This story does not appear in the Valmiki Ramayana. It is a re-telling from the narration of the kathakar Pujya Indresh Upadhyay.

 

Bhishma’s Vows, Krishna’s Vision

“Why aren’t you killing the Pandavas, Pitamaha? You have always loved them and hated us, Kauravas! You’re my army commander, but where does your loyalty lie?”

Stung by Duryodhana’s accusations, Bhishma declared:

“I will kill all five Pandavas tomorrow!”

He took five arrows, marked each with the name of a Pandava, and infused them with the tapas he had accumulated through a lifetime of brahmacharya.

Duryodhana was thrilled. But what if the old man changed his mind?

“I’ll keep the five arrows tonight and give them to you tomorrow morning.”

A little later, a veiled woman entered Bhishma’s tent noiselessly and fell at his feet.

Hearing her bangles jingle, the grandsire uttered the customary blessing for a married woman:

“Deergha Sumangali Bhava!”

As the woman rose, her veil slipped, revealing Draupadi!

Bhishma was stunned. He had just blessed with a long and auspicious married life, the very woman, whose husbands he had vowed to kill tomorrow.

“Who brought you here?” he thundered, rushing outside.

One glimpse of that familiar Pitambara, and he knew.

“Very well, Krishna! If you have made me break my vow, I shall make you break yours!”

Krishna smiled.

His task was only half done.

A hooded figure entered Duryodhana’s tent, startling him.

“You! How did you get here? Why have you come?”

“I have come to claim the boon you promised me,” replied Arjuna.

Duryodhana’s face paled. The memory of that incident still rankled.

During their vanavasa, Duryodhana had camped near the Pandavas, hoping to insult them. Instead, he was the one humiliated when the Gandharvas captured him. The righteous Yudhishthira had sent Arjuna to rescue him. Grudgingly, Duryodhana had offered Arjuna a boon for saving his life.

Arjuna had declined, saying he would ask for it later.

How had Arjuna remembered that boon now?

“What do you seek?”

“I want the five arrows Bhishma has empowered with our names.”

Bound by his own word, Duryodhana had no choice but to hand over the arrows.

Disaster was averted.

As the war raged on, Bhishma inflicted enormous damage on the Pandava army. Arjuna still hesitated to strike him.

Krishna could take it no longer.

“Arjuna, it seems you are unwilling to fight your Pitamaha. I will have to do it myself!”

Leaping from the chariot, His uttariyam (upper garment) trailing behind Him, Krishna picked up the wheel of a broken chariot, and charged towards Bhishma.

Bhishma immediately laid down his bow and folded his palms.

“I welcome death at Your divine hands, O Puṇḍarīkākṣa!”

Arjuna rushed and caught hold of Krishna, pleading:

“Krishna! Remember Your vow not to lift a weapon during the Kurukshetra war! How can You break Your own word? Come back!”

Krishna smiled. He is Śāntaḥ (शान्तः), the One who is eternally tranquil.

Bhishma had vowed to make Krishna break His vow.

Such is the compassion of the Lord that He is willing to break His own vow to uphold that of His bhaktas!

The battle continued, but Arjuna could not bring Bhishma down.

On the night of the ninth day, Krishna led the Pandavas to Bhishma’s tent.

With folded hands, Yudhishthira asked:

“Pitamaha, tell us how to defeat you.”

“I have a longstanding vow. I will not fight anyone who was born a woman or appears to be one. Let Arjuna stand behind Shikhandi and aim his arrows at me. I will not resist.”

Shikhandi was Amba in a previous birth and had taken an oath to destroy Bhishma.

And so, on the tenth day of the war, the grandsire finally fell, his body pierced by Arjuna’s arrows, decisively changing the course of the war.

Three different situations. Three different solutions. All orchestrated by One Protector of the Pandavas.

The Pandavas had to face danger. Arjuna had to fight. Difficult choices had to be made. But Krishna guided and delivered them from each crisis.

God’s protection does not always come as a miracle that makes every difficulty disappear. Sometimes, it comes as wisdom when we are confused, a timely reminder when we have forgotten, or a way forward when every path seems closed.

The question is – are we prepared to trust Him completely and surrender to Him, like the Pandavas did?

The Unbroken Yawn

https://youtu.be/l6184L76vGA

A Father, a Son, and a Test of Dharma

Kesini's swayamvara was approaching. Two suitors sought her hand: Virochana, the Daitya prince, and son of the famous devotee Prahlada, and Sudhanva, a Brahmana.



In the assembly, when Virochana invited Sudhanva to share his golden seat, Sudhanva refused.

Virochana declared himself superior and ridiculed Sudhanva, saying that a mat of grass was more fitting for him than a seat beside a prince.

The conversation soon turned into a contest of pride. Who was greater — the Daityas or the Brahmanas? Who deserved the higher place?

Sudhanva would not accept the insult. He insisted that wisdom and knowledge was far more important than the power of the sword. Words led to arguments and the two men were ready to stake their life itself on the outcome.

But who could judge such a contest fairly?

Virochana refused to approach either the gods or human beings. Sudhanva proposed an unexpected judge — Virochana's own father, Prahlada!

How could he trust the father of his rival?

Because Sudhanva believed that Prahlada would never speak an untruth, even to protect his own son.

The two approached Prahlada and explained their dispute.



Prahlada now faced a terrible test that no father would ever wish for. One contestant was his own son. The other was the man whose claim he had to judge. A false verdict might protect Virochana, but at what cost?

After some time in thought, Prahlada the judge, declared his verdict.

“Sudhanva is superior to Virochana.”

But the next moment, Prahlada the father turned to Sudhanva, to make one final appeal: “Spare my son's life.”



Sudhanva relented. “Prahlada, you have chosen virtue even at the cost of your own son. I therefore grant him his life.”

Thus, truth prevailed, and mercy followed.

In the Vidura Neeti part of the Udyoga Parva of the Mahabharata, Vidura narrates this story to King Dhritarashtra. His intention is to hold up Prahlada as a role model, and to warn the king against letting his attachment to Duryodhana to override Dharma.

What’s the lesson we can learn?

Prahlada upheld the truth even when his own son's life was at stake. This teaches us that we must not excuse wrongdoing just because it is done by a loved one. The real test of how dharmic we are comes when truth conflicts with our self-interest. If a loved one is doing wrong, will we still show the courage to stand by dharma?

Why Did Dharmaraja Gamble?

“How could Yudhishthira be called Dharmaraja when he gambled away his kingdom, his brothers and even his wife? Wasn't it adharmik of him to gamble?”

Many people ask this question. 

After the Rajasuya Yagna was completed, Vyasa Maharishi blessed Yudhishthira. But he also gave him a terrible prophecy.

“A great war will take place in the future. The entire Kuru race will perish, except for the five Pandavas. And you, Yudhishthira, will be responsible for this calamity.”

Yudhishthira was devastated.

That very moment, he took a vow.

“I won’t allow this to ever happen! From now onwards, I will never speak harshly or refuse any request or do anything at all to displease anyone, especially the Kauravas! I will be even more alert in following the Kshatriya code of conduct.”

Some time later came the invitation from Dhritarashtra to play the game of dice.

Yudhishthira accepted it - because it was against the Kshatriya code to refuse an invitation, and equally, because of his vow.

The game began.

Yudhisthira did not question the terms of the game.

He didn’t object to Shakuni throwing the dice on Duryodhana's behalf.

He didn't protest against the outrageous stakes. 

Why?

Because his whole focus was on not antagonizing the Kauravas. 

He was desperate to prevent the calamity that Vyasa had foreseen.

Yudhishthira was trying to control the future. He believed that if he acted carefully enough, he could prevent the prophecy from coming true.

He had taken doership upon himself.

His intention was to avert a catastrophe. But in trying to control what might happen tomorrow, he lost sight of what he should do today.

In trying to protect the Kuru race, he neglected the welfare of his own brothers and wife who were his responsibility!

What could he have done differently?

Instead of taking the onus on himself, maybe he could have sought counsel?

He could have turned to Krishna for guidance?

We also often behave in this way. In the sense that we try to control every outcome in our life only by our own efforts.

We compromise on what is right because we fear what might happen if we don't.

We say we are being wise, when it is actually fear that drives our decisions.

Like Yudhishthira, we become so preoccupied with preventing an unpleasant future that we fail to see the harm we are causing in the present.

The Bhagavad Gita teaches us the best way out – do what is right, recognize the limits of your own control, and surrender the outcome to the Lord.

Seven Days to Live

Sant Tukaram’s wife Avali was known to be short-tempered and critical of the way he spent all his time in devotion to Vitthal.

A young man once approached Sant Tukaram and asked him:

“Maharaj, how is it that you are always so peaceful despite your wife’s argumentative nature? You never seem to lose your temper. You treat everyone with love. What is the secret of your calm?”

Tukaram replied, “Forget that, but I know a grave secret about you.”

“What is it, Maharaj?” the young man asked.

“You have only seven days left to live.”

Stunned, the young man went away.

On the seventh day, he returned to Tukaram.

“Maharaj,” he said, “my time is almost over. I have come to seek your blessings.”

Tukaram asked, “During these seven days, did you quarrel with anyone? Did you lose your temper or hold on to anger?”

“No, Maharaj,” the young man replied. “How could I? Because I had so little time left, I tried to spend it peacefully with my loved ones.”

He explained how he had stopped shouting at his mother when the food had less salt or more spice. He had given up arguing with people over small things, trying to prove himself superior. He no longer got triggered by whatever people said to him, or how they behaved with him.

Tukaram smiled.

“Remember the question you asked me, about how I stay peaceful always? Now you know the answer. I live everyday with the awareness that death can come at any moment. Why waste the little time we have in anger, quarrels and resentment? Why not live with love and kindness instead?”

The young man understood.

Can we?