Stories from Mahabharat-2

 Mahabharat Stories; Stories-2

taken from sushmajee.com; https://sushmajee.com/mahaabhaarat/mbh-stories-2/index-mbh-stories-2.htm
Mahaabhaarat has several such stories which are either not related to MBH story at all or even if they are related to it they give us a lesson.  There are some stories which are not in KMG translation of Vyaas' Mahaabhaarat version.

Many of the stories are given in  the main story stream of MBH text,Some of them are given separately  in MBH-Stories section.
Here are some such stories which are taken from Vyaas' MBH (KMG version) and give different meaning,
   and some other stories are given in other versions of Mahaabhaarat.read them and check if you felt the same way when you read them while reading MBH.
Wherever the reference is known, it is given there

1. Story of a Braahman 2. What You Should Ask From God? 3. Krishn Bhakt Sulabhaa 4. Sudhanvaa 5. Satyabhaamaa 6. Kach and Devayaanee 7. Bheeshm and Draupadee 8. Shibi 9. Uloopee 10. Karm Phal 11. Short Stories 12. Bhangaaswan

Who is truly happy

 

• Yaksh asked 125 questions to Yudhishtra which are all philosophical and Metaphysical;

• one of the best question is;

• "Who is truly happy?"

• "A man who cooks in his own house, on the fifth or the sixth part of the day, with scanty vegetables, but who is not in debt and who doesn't stir from home, is truly happy."

• This question delves into the core of human existence. It pushes Yudhisthira to look beyond material possessions and fleeting pleasures to define true happiness. It's a question that remains relevant in our own lives today.

• Yudhisthira essentially suggests that true happiness lies not in external circumstances, but in a state of inner peace achieved through a simple, debt-free life, self-reliance, and contentment with what one has.

• "वास्तव में खुश कौन है?" "वह व्यक्ति जो अपने घर में दिन के पांचवें या छठे पहर में कम सब्जियों के साथ खाना बनाता है, लेकिन जिस पर कर्ज नहीं है और जो घर से बाहर नहीं जाता है, वह वास्तव में खुश है।" यह प्रश्न मानव अस्तित्व के मूल में उतरता है। यह युधिष्ठिर को सच्ची खुशी को परिभाषित करने के लिए भौतिक संपत्ति और क्षणभंगुर सुखों से परे देखने के लिए प्रेरित करता है। यह एक ऐसा प्रश्न है जो आज भी हमारे जीवन में प्रासंगिक बना हुआ है। युधिष्ठिर अनिवार्य रूप से सुझाव देते हैं कि सच्ची ख़ुशी बाहरी परिस्थितियों में नहीं, बल्कि एक सरल, ऋण-मुक्त जीवन, आत्मनिर्भरता और जो कुछ है उसमें संतुष्टि के माध्यम से प्राप्त आंतरिक शांति की स्थिति में है।

What is the greatest wonder of the world?

 

• Yaksh asked 125 questions to Yudhishtra which are all philosophical and Metaphysical;

• one of the best question is;

Yaksha's questions to Yudhisthira in the Mahabharata,testing Yudhisthira's understanding of human nature.

What is the greatest wonder of the world?

"The greatest wonder of the world is that seeing people die all around us, we still believe we will live forever."

This answer highlights the human tendency to ignore death, even though it's an inevitable part of life. Yudhisthira finds it astonishing that despite witnessing death constantly, people cling to the illusion of permanence.

This response demonstrates Yudhisthira's wisdom and his acceptance of the impermanence of life.

महाभारत में यक्ष के युधिष्ठिर से प्रश्न, मानव स्वभाव के बारे में युधिष्ठिर की समझ की परीक्षा।

दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा आश्चर्य क्या है?

"दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा आश्चर्य यह है कि अपने चारों ओर लोगों को मरते देखकर भी हमें विश्वास होता है कि हम हमेशा जीवित रहेंगे।"

यह उत्तर मृत्यु को नज़रअंदाज़ करने की मानवीय प्रवृत्ति पर प्रकाश डालता है, भले ही यह जीवन का एक अपरिहार्य हिस्सा है। युधिष्ठिर को यह आश्चर्यजनक लगता है कि लगातार मृत्यु को देखने के बावजूद लोग स्थायित्व के भ्रम से चिपके रहते हैं।

यह प्रतिक्रिया युधिष्ठिर की बुद्धिमत्ता और जीवन की नश्वरता को स्वीकार करने को दर्शाती है।

Management in Ancient India

 Management in Ancient India

read more about it on;https://sushmajee.com/mahaabhaarat/mbh-general/articles-2/43-management.htm

Vidur's Neeti - told to Dhritraashtra. There is one article about the management on the following site

http://heritagenews.in/archives/indian-management/452-ancient-indian-management-principles--series-one--viduropadesa.html.
http://heritagenews.in/archives/indian-management/451-ancient-indian-management-principles--series-two.html

Hundreds of books are available on ancient Indian management, even today in the printed form. Most important among them are Bhagavad Geetaa, Yoga Vashishth, Shukra Neeti Saar, Bhartrihari's Upadesh Shatak, Chaanakya's Neeti Saar, Bheeshmopadesh, Bharatopadesh, Lakshamnopadesh, hundreds of Subhaashit, dialogues/advise given by the gurus /Rishi in Raamaayan and Mahaabhaarat and so on. These books and many other books of the same quality explain the management messages adoptable and adaptable for the 21st century. Here, we present few messages from Viduropadesh in the same order as it is given in his book. These messages are given by Vidur, to Dhritaraashtra, when the latter was terribly confused whether to support his son Duryodhan who was practicing all A-Dharm or support Dharm Putra who was the embodiment of Dharm. At the junction of this confusion and self analysis Dhritraashtra invited his brother Vidur for consolation and for a solution to over come the problems. The messages given by Vidur to Dhritraashtra is known as Viduropadesh, which is the part of Mahaabhaarat...

1. A scholar/ manager should have spiritual knowledge, devotion towards work, patience, endurance, moral strength.
2. He should use the moral strength for protecting Dhaarmik values; devotion towards work should be used for earning money and controlling luxurious expectations and the spiritual knowledge should be used for detachment.
3. The scholar should follow Dharm and never practice A-Dharm.
4. He should have faith in god and concentration towards his work.
5. He should not get angry nor get excited / nor show the ego /nor be childish. He should not be a spendthrift and should not think that "I am great and respectable".
6. Should take other's advise/ opinion before undertaking /doing a work.
7. He should not disclose everything about a work before it is completed.
8. Heat, cold, fear, happiness, unhappiness, luxury, poverty, etc, should not affect him positively or negatively.
9. He should not focus too much on the negatives or positives.
10. He should focus mainly on the work (Karm) / mission only.
11. A scholar/manager should use his wisdom for Dhaarmik mission and also for prosperity in a Dhaarmik way.
12. He should get away/ relieved from a luxurious / extravaganza in his life.
13. Expect what he deserves and whole heartedly work to achieve the goal (expectations).
14. Never ignore anything nor consider as silly; take seriously the work.
15. Try to listen as much as possible from all sources
16. Try to learn quickly and systematically
17. Never start any work without a deep understanding about the work.
18. Never interfere with others work without his consent.
19. Never talk in between without the consent of the speaker.
20. Never expect which you will not get; never feel sad on what you lost for ever and keep stability during crisis.
21. A manager should use powerful and attractive words during discussions
22. He should be in a position to convince others easily.
23. His words should reflect his wisdom and should be capable for nterpreting the rules positively.
24. He should become a model for others in words and deeds.
25. His knowledge + experience + wisdom + action should work complementary to each other
26. His qualification, method of action and attitudes should also compliment each other.
27. He should never become crazy for money but should earn that through hard work.
28. Never give up any mission undertaken without completing it, however difficult may that be.
29. Never interfere with other's work if it does not come under your purview. Treat the friends with the same dignity they show to you and never be over polite to those who do not respect / love you and never give up any good friends
30. Do not show affection / love to those who do not reciprocate and never try to fight with strong and powerful people.
32. Never try to impress by showing that an enemy is your friend
33. Never ill treat your good friends and never do bad against them / others.
34. Never try to project yourself, never doubt others (for everything).
35. Do the work undertaken within specific time limit
36. Respect the parents and forefathers, keep faith in the divine power and also try to make good friends.
37. Never enter into a house without invitation, never try to answer to a question without asking and never try to put trust on those who are not trustworthy.
38. Criticizing others for doing something and doing the same thing by self is foolishness.
39. Knowing well that self is incapable of doing something and then getting angry on others is foolishness.
40. Without knowing our own limitations and without doing any work / strain, trying to grab wealth of others is foolish.
41. Never advise those who do not deserve/ seek your guidance.
41. Expect nothing from a miser and from a useless fellow.
42. Try to follow the footsteps of highly educated, hardworking man who makes money in a Dhaarmik way.
43. Share the food and money with others for making friendship.
44. Remember that many people do heinous work and others suffer.
45. Many a times those who create problems escape from the punishment.
46. The arrow shot from a bow may or may not kill but the intellectual power shot from an intelligent man can even uproot a nation.
47. A poison and an arrow may kill only to whom it was given/shot, the advise of a manager can destroy the whole system, including the manager himself.
48. Never eat tasty food alone, never analyze a serious matter alone, never go for a long tour alone, never walk away from a group of people sleeping together.
49. As a ship is needed for crossing the ocean similarly truth is needed for solving the problems.
50. Only one criticism / blame may have to be faced by a manager having good patience. That is "the manager is a coward" he will not have to face any other blame because patience is a great quality which attracts many.
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51. Nothing can affect a person with patience.
52. Like the fire automatically puts off in a bare land, the cruel actions will not affect a man with patience.
53. Dharm leads to glory; Patience leads to peace; Non violence leads to happiness.
54. Like a self hiding frog in a hole is eaten by a snake, a manager getting himself isolated (who does not protect his colleagues) get destroyed by the enemy.
55. Two great qualities of a manager are never using harsh words and never serving the bad people.
56. Never follow the words of bad people
57. Two sharp thorns which can create pain are, desiring for a luxuries life even when remaining poor without doing work and getting angry even when incapable of doing anything.
58. A family member should never keep without engaging himself in work and a Sanyaasee should never lead a luxurious life.
59. Two types of people are above the Heaven they are those who have patience even when they are very powerful and the other spending money for charity even if they are poor.
60. Two types of mis-utilizations of the wealth are donating to the non-deserving and not donating to the deserving.
61. There are three pathways for human beings Saatwik, Raajasic and Taamasik.
62. There are three types of people Uttam, Madhyam and Adham, depute them to the work according to their nature.
63. Never try to grab others property, wife and never give up the close friends.
64. Kaam (over expectations and desires), Krodh (anger) and Lobh (miserly) are the three gates for the hell.
65. Getting a boon + coming back to own country + getting a son together will be equal to winning the enemy (when the achievements are compared).
66. Never give up our devotees, servants and those who approached for help.
67. Never disclose the secrets with idiots, people having farsightedness, those who are doing the things very fast and those who flatter during discussion.
68. A family member (Grihasth) should protect four types of people, old aged, scholar living in poverty, friend living in poverty and the sister who does not have children.
69. The blessings of god, prediction of scholars, humility of great men and destruction of sinners are the four which may take place at any time.
70. Always protect father, mother, Jeevaatmaa, teacher and the noble flame in the prayer hall.
71. Friends, enemies, lazy men, and those who take help and give help always follow you.
72. If anyone of the sensory organs is lost, then the wisdom of that person will get lost through that hole.
73. Those who expect great success should control sleep, laziness, fear, anger, crookedness and easy going nature.
74. One should give up these six persons: the teacher who does not guide properly, the person who does not chant mantras properly, the king who cannot protect the citizens, the wife always behaving negatively, the merchant who is not interested in walking for sales and a barber who always wishes to live in forest.
75. Six qualities should never be given up - telling the truth, donating to poor, active nature, carefulness, free from ego, patience and courage.
76. Six happiness for men are health, prosperity, loving wife/husband, obedient son, earning through hard work and knowledge.
78. One should get rid of these six: Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Mad, Moh and Matsarya.
79. Thieves live through careless people, doctors live through patients, beggars through the masters and scholars through idiots.
80. Cattle, servant, agro products, knowledge, relation with people may easily be lost by carelessness. Remember these.
81. A student rarely remembers the teacher after education,
82. The son rarely remembers the mother after his marriage,
83. A rarely remembers the supported after achieving the goal,
84. The person rarely remembers the boatman after crossing the river
85. And a patient rarely remembers the doctor after recovery.
86. Free from illness, living with own earnings, living in own home, relation with good people, livelihood from the hard work, fearlessness are the six great blessings that one can get.
87. Those who are always angry, arrogant, unhappy, doubting nature, living on other's luck, are the people who live in misery.
88. Give up these six habits: playing the dice, taking drinks, hunting, using sharp words, giving harsh punishments, wasting money.
89. Those who always keep revengeful thoughts, feel unhappiness, always show anger, suspect others always, and those who are living on others luck always live in misery.
90. (all these advises are given by Vidura to his brother, Dhritraashtra when the latter asked the guidance in life when he felt dejected in his life)
91. Give up these seven bad habits: serving immoral women, playing dice, consuming drinks, hunting, using sharp words, punishing others, spending lavishly
92. Those who are going to ruin will show these eight symptoms : criticizing scholars, becoming culprits, grabbing others property, hurting others, harassing great men, becoming intolerant, practicing A-Dhaarmik life, and blaming others.
93. Eight are the happiness always cherished : getting together of relatives, getting money, hugging one's son, the climax in sex, appreciating words, position in society, getting rewards in presence of great men.
94. Eight qualifications which brings name and fame are : wisdom, nobility, control of mind, knowledge, capacity to undertake challenges, controlled talking, charitable activities within the capacity, contentment/ gratitude.
95. Everyone can become great when they know the reality about the life.
96. Knowledge about self fetches actual contentment and happiness.
97. Don't expect Dhaarmik behavior from those who are - liquor addict, egoist, crazy, weak, terribly angry, hungry to the core, running behind something, miser, frightened, craving for sex

 

How and When Was Mahaabhaarat Written?

 read more about it on;https://sushmajee.com/mahaabhaarat/preface-2-how.htm

How and When Was Mahaabhaarat Written?

It is an interesting story as how Mahaabhaarat was written. When Ved Vyaas Jee thought about writing it, he found that it was a huge book. Who could write it? So he went to Brahmaa Jee and posed his problem, that he wanted to write a book, but it was so huge that he wanted a scriber to write it, if He could suggest anybody's name who could help him write that book.

Brahmaa Jee thought for a moment and said - "I don't see anybody else than Ganesh Jee who could write your book, but better you yourself ask him first." So Ved Vyaas Jee went to Ganesh Jee and told about his plight and Brahmaa Jee's proposal of his name to write his book. Ganesh Jee agreed to write it. He said - "But there is a condition." Vyaas Jee asked in surprise "What"? Ganesh Jee said - "When I will start writing, I will not wait in between, means I will continuously write."

Ved Vyaas Jee smiled and said - "Ganesh Jee, Then I also have one condition." This time Ganesh Jee's turn was to get a surprise, He asked "What"? Ved Vyaas Jee said - "When I will speak, you will not write anything without first understanding the meaning of it." Ganesh Jee said - "Agreed".

Thus both sat to dictate and write Mahaabhaarat. It is said that whatever time Ganesh Jee took in writing the Shlok, Ved Vyaas Jee used to create several Shlok during that time. Since Ganesh Jee could not have written anything without understanding the meaning first, he was slow in writing, because Ved Vyaas' Shlok had so deep meaning that Ganesh Jee took quite enough time to understand it; and Ved Vyaas Jee's capability to create Shlok was so much that he could create many Shlok during that time.

When was Mahaabhaarat Written?
According to most historians the date of writing Mahaabhaarat is said to be around 3102 BC.

 

Maandavya Rishi, history of VIDUR JEE,s birth;

 

Maandavya Rishi; history of VIDUR JEE,s birth;

Taken from    Padm Puraan, 1/29;  
see also  MBH, G-1-Beginning/5;    MBH, G-9-Anushaasan/2;      Story-Chastity

Maandavya Muni is not a witness either in Raamaayan or in Mahaabhaara, but his story comes in Padm Puraan and Mahaabhaarat. Maandavya Muni gave Shaap to Yam Raaj that he had to be born as a Shoodra on Prithvi for 100 years three times ...

Maandavya Curses Yam Raaj
This story comes in Padm Puraan, 1/29. Once a King's servants caught some thieves at the Aashram of Maandavya Muni. They thought that Maandavya Muni was also in that group of thieves, so they caught him also and took all of them to the King. The King assigned death punishment to all of them. So his people put all of them on stake. Since the King's servants brought him while he was doing Tap, he did not feel the slightest touch of the stake. But it happened so that a Pativrataa wife was carrying her leper husband to a prostitute's house, his leg hit him and he woke up from his Tap and he felt the pain. (read this story below). He immediately asked the King's servants to bring him down from the stake. The servants told this to the King, so when the King came to know about Maandavya Muni, that he was a Rishi, he immediately called him back and asked for his forgiveness.

When Maandavya Muni was taken to Narak to Yam Raaj, he asked Yam Raaj, "What was my sin to get this punishment?" Yam Raaj said, "You have committed a Paap." "What?" "Once you have pierced a Tiddee (locust) with the tip of a Kush." Muni said - "That I must have done when I was a very little child and unknowingly. And you punished me so much for that little crime?" Then Muni gave Shaap to Dharm Raaj, "Go, and live in Shoodra Varn on Prithvi for 100 years three times." So he was born as maid-servant's son as Vidur Jee. [According to some other sources he was born as the in-charge of the Shamashaan land where Harishchandra worked]. Read Yudhishthir-Incarnation of Dharm Raaj for extra explanation.

Read more on:https://sushmajee.com/biographies/bio-L-M/maandavya.htm

This was very favourite story told by Sushma several times;

MAHABHARAT WAR 2

 War Details 

Important events and important killings

--Both the Paandav and Kaurav armies marched to Kurukshetra on the Amaavasyaa Day. The period from Maargsheersh Shukla 2nd Day to 12th Day, was taken up by installation of tents, arranging Army rehearsals etc. etc.
--The Great Mahabharat War started on Shubhkrit Maargsheersh Shukla 13/14th Day, Tuesday in Bharanee Star. 
--Bheeshm's Fall : On Maargsheersh Krishn 7th Day.
--Abhimanyu's Death : Abhimanyu was killed on Maargsheersh Krishn 10th Day. He was aged 32 years (From Pramodoot to Shubhkrit). Since his marriage was in Jyeshth month, he led only 6 month's of family life, and Uttaraa was 6 months pregnant.
--Saindhav's (Jayadrath) Death : Saindhav was killed on Maargsheersh Krishn 11th Day.
--The battle was continued even in the night.
--Drone was killed on Maargsheersh Krishn 12th Day at noon.
--Karn's Death : Karn was killed on Maargsheersh Krishn 14th Day.
--Shalya was killed on Maargsheersh Amaavasyaa Day at noon.
--Duryodhan's Fall : He fell on Maargsheersh Aaavasyaa Day/Paush Shukla 1st Day in the evening. He died the next morning on the Shukla 1st Day.

--Ashwatthaamaa murdered Paandav's sons during the same night on Maargsheersh Amaavasyaa / Paush Shukla 1st Day night, and conveyed the dire information to the dying Duryodhan on Shukla 1st Day early morning. Defeat of Ashwatthaamaa : on Paush Shukla 1st Day.

Read more on the link;https://sushmajee.com/mahaabhaarat/mbh-notes/mbh-notes-mbh/mbh-dates-1.htm

Mahabharat War;

 Who were killed by ARJUN on which day of the war?

On 10th Day   Bheeshm.

On 12th day

 Bhagadatt and Shakuni's two brothers. 
 three brothers of Karn - Shatrunjaya and Vipath (third name is not given)

On 14th day;

 Avantee Brothers - Vind and Anuvind

 Shrutaayu, the son of Varun Dev, before he killed Jayadrath
Jayadrath;  [G-6-War, 23-battle-14-4]

Vrishsen (Drone, 170)

On 16th day

Dandadhar and Dand (Chief of Magadh and his brother)

On 17th Day

 10 Dhritraashtra's sons while going to kill Karn. 

Karn's son Vrishsen before killing Karn.

On 18th day

Satyakarm, Satyeshu and Susharmaa. (Shalya, 27)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

In the last only 10 people remained alive,
seven from Paandav's side - 5 Paandav, Saatyaki and Yuyutsu (Dhritraashtra's son from his Vaishya's wife) and
three from Kaurav's side - Ashwatthaamaa, Kripaachaarya and Kritvarmaa.

for details see the link below:

https://sushmajee.com/mahaabhaarat/mbh-notes/mbh-notes-mbh/mbh-war-1.htm

https://sushmajee.com/mahaabhaarat/mbh-notes/mbh-notes-mbh/mbh-dates-1.htm

PROCESS OF JUSTICE, न्याय की प्रकिर्या

 

PPROCESS OF JUSTICE, न्याय की प्रकिर्या 

This incident is shown in a serial -Mahabharata which is very appropriate for Judging the person  and  giving the punishment accordingly.This story  explains the process of justice for a certain crime.Once four people were brought in a King’s court for the judgment of a murder  committed by all of them together. All of them accepted their crime.The King had two sons and he has to choose one of them as his heir. He asked his younger son first that what punishment should be given to them for their crime?

The younger son replied that all of us  know that Death sentence is the punishment for such a crime., so all them should be sentenced to death.”The courtiers clapped for his judgment. Then the king sought his another son to express his opinion.His other son said – “Your Majesty! I cannot decide unless I know te background of criminals.Their Varn and Caste are important to know before passing any judgment on their crime.

One person from the court raised the objection that what justice had to do with Varn and Caste.The son answered — “If this had not been necessary then I would not have raised this question at all.”

The King asked all the four criminals to tell their Varan .One of them told that he was a Shoodra, the other one said that he was a Vaishya, the third one said that he was a Kshatriya and the fourth one said that he was a Brahman. Then the second son said – “According to the laws of justice, the Shoodra should be imprisoned for four years. The Vaishya should be imprisoned for eight years, and the Kshatriya should be imprisoned for sixteen years. But a Brahman cannot be sentenced to death that is why our GuruJi only can decide about his sentence.”

Another person mockingly said – “Ah, what a justice?

Crime one and punishments are four.” Some people sitting in the court laughed too at this justice.

Then the son said – “The crime is not one here,  The crime committed by a Shoodra is the crime

committed by an ignorant that is why his punishment should be the lightest.But the Vaishya is not as ignorant as the Shoodra, so his punishment should be  double the punishment of the Shoodra. And because the Kshatriya is the protector of the society,commits' the murder then his punishment would be double the Vaishya’s punishment for killing.Now a Brahman is a learned person, he teaches to all of us commits the crime  knowingly fully well that what he is doing. His crime is most serious. Only our Guru can deal with that.”

The man who had mocked the second son before spoke again – “But your judgment is based on inequality.” The son said – “But everybody cannot be judged on equal basis as their background  and intellectual levels are different . Same punishment to all in such a case would be an injustice.

Bhisham Pitahmaha of Mahabharat

Look at the life of this great personality of Mahabharat. Upto the age of 16years he remained away from his father and family  under the care of his mother only ; did his usual education etc. Joined his father and family and after a short while, he has to sacrifise his crown, youth and rest of the life for his father and family and took a vow to take care of the crown, and Hastinapur.Just after a few years , his father died and he has to take care of the crown, step mother and step brothers and later their children and family etc.Looked after them, family and the crown etc. He has to struggle through out his life to take care of all of them even at the cost of his principles and moral.
In our present society , do we see such things even for our own parents, brothers leave aside the step mother and brothers and family .

Art of Giving

The Art of Giving

"Rivers do not drink their own water, nor do tree eat their own fruit, nor do
rain clouds eat the grains reared by them. The wealth of the noble is used
solely for the benefit of others?
Even after accepting that giving is good and that one must learn to give,
several questions need to be answered:.
The first question is when should one give?
We all know the famous incident from the Mahabharata.
Yudhisthir, asks a beggar seeking alms to come the next day. On this, Bhim
rejoices, that Yudhisthir his brother, has conquered death! For he is sure that
he will be around tomorrow to give. Yudhisthir gets the message.
One does not know really whether one will be there tomorrow to give! The time to
give therefore is now.
The next question is how much to give?
One recalls the famous incident from history. Rana Pratap was reeling after
defeat from the Moghals. He had lost his army, he had lost his wealth, and most
important he had lost hope, his will to fight. At that time in his darkest hour,
his erstwhile minister Bhamasha came seeking him and placed his entire fortune
at the disposal of Rana Pratap. With this, Rana Pratap raised an army and lived
to fight another day.
The answer to this question how much to give is "Give as much as you can!
The next question is what to give?.
It is not only money that can be given. It could be a flower or even a smile.
It is not how much one gives but how one gives that really matters. When you
give a smile to a stranger that may be the only good thing received by him in
days and weeks! "You can give anything but you must give with your heart!
One also needs answer to this question whom to give?.
Many times we avoid giving by finding fault with the person who is seeking.
However, being judgmental and rejecting a person on the presumption that he may
not be the most deserving is not justified. Give without being judgmental!
Next we have to answer How to give?
Coming to the manner of giving, one has to ensure that the receiver does not
feel humiliated, nor does the giver feel proud by giving.
In giving follow the advice, Let not your left hand know what your right hand
gives? Charity without publicity and fanfare is the highest form of charity.
'Give quietly!

While giving let not the recipient feel small or humiliated. After all what we
give never really belonged to us. We come to this world with nothing and will go
with nothing. The thing gifted was only with us for a temporary period. Why then
take pride in giving away something which really did not belong to us? Give with
grace and with a feeling of gratitude.
When you help someone in need, give it before he asks for it; for if you place
him under the necessity of stretching out his hand, you take away from him his
self-respect which is worth more than the value of your alms.
What should one feel after giving?
We all know the story of Eklavya. When Dronacharya asked him for his right thumb
as "Guru Dakshina", he unhesitatingly cut off the thumb and gave it to
Dronacharya.
There is a little known sequel to this story. Eklavya was asked whether he ever
regretted the act of giving away his thumb. He replied, and the reply has to be
believed to be true, as it was asked to him when he was dying.
His reply was "Yes! I regretted this only once in my life. It was when Pandavas
were coming in to kill Dronacharya who was broken hearted on the false news of
death of his son Ashwathama and had stopped fighting. It was then that I
regretted the loss of my thumb. If the thumb was there, no one could have dared
hurt my Guru.
The message to us is clear. Give and never regret giving!
And the last question is How much should we provide for our heirs?
Ask yourself 'are we taking away from them the gift of work'? - A source of
happiness! The answer is given by Warren Buffett: "Leave your kids enough to do
anything, but not enough to do nothing!

Saint Kabir:
"When the wealth in the house increases, when water fills a boat, Throw them
with both hands "
Mary Angelou

"Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it"