Yaksha Prashnam Questions 55 - 58

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/02/yaksha-prashnam-questions-51-54.html

What is the best method to earn money? Which is the best property or investment? Which is the best profit? Which is the best item to be enjoyed?

What is the best method to earn money?

Skill is the best method to earn money. A skillful person will always be able to provide for themselves and their families by applying their skills. In the story of Nala Damayanthi, King Nala lost his kingdom along with everything he owned to his brother. The king wandered in the forest with his wife. Wishing for his wife to live comfortably he abandoned her knowing that she will find her way to her parent’s home where she will be comfortable. The king heard a cry for help. Upon following the voice he noticed that the serpent Karkotan was surrounded by forest fire. He stepped inside the ring of fire and saved the serpent. Karkotan then asked the king to walk ten steps along with him while counting the number of steps in Sanskrit. Accordingly the king walked counting his steps. The moment the king took the tenth step counting “dasha” the snake bit him. Alarmed at the snake’s behaviour, the king enquired why the snake had bitten him. Karkotan replied that he only did what the king had asked him to do as in Sanskrit “dasha” means “ten” as well as “bite”. The snake added that he bit the king only to help him. In the meantime the king’s appearance changed. The once handsome king became short and stout. The snake told him that now the king could pass his exile incognito and the moment the king feels it is safe to re-surface he would get back his original handsome figure. The king went to the country of King Rituparna seeking employment. As Nala looked very ugly the people were not impressed. He went to Rituparna’s court seeking employment. As Nala showed-off his skill as a charioteer, the king immediately hired him even though he had not been impressed by Nala’s first impression.

Thus a person possessing skills will always be able to find a livelihood.

Which is the best property or investment?

The best property is listening to Upanyasams (religious discourses). The Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar stated in Thirukural that “selvathul selvam sevi selvam” i.e. the best wealth is the wealth of listening.

We cannot learn everything by just reading books. Most of us have read the Valmiki Ramayana. We know that Lord Rama concealed Himself from Vali while shooting Vali with His arrow. Sugreevan approached Vali and challenged him to a wrestling match. Vali beat up Sugreevan while Lord Rama watched them fight.  Sugreevan asked the Lord why he hadn’t interfered. Lord Rama lied that He was unable to distinguish between Vali and Sugreevan as they looked identical. The following day Lord Rama asked a flower garland to be prepared and insisted that Lakshmana should garland Sugreevan before the match. That day the Lord shot and killed Vali.

Books will tell us that the Lord had asked Sugreevan to wear the garland in order to be able to identify him from Vali; in reality the Lord is the Supreme Being and can differentiate between the two without the help of a garland. Then, did Lord Rama lie? The Lord did not lie as He referred to the arrogant behaviour of both Sugreevan as well as Vali. Both the brothers displayed arrogance. They thought that “they were fighting”. They felt that victory would be because of their effort. They did not acknowledge the Lord as the inner controller. Hence Lord Rama found their attitudes to be identical and witnessed the match without interfering.

Sugreevan never treated Lord Lakshmana with respect. He felt that he need to show respect only to Lord Rama as Lord Rama was a king like himself. Lord Rama never protects anyone who did not pay their respects to Lakshmana. Hence He insisted that Lakshmana should garland Sugreevan. In order to wear the garland Sugreevan had to bow his head before Lakshmana thus pleasing Lord Rama.

Above commentary is not available from any books on Ramayana. It can only be learned by listening to the discourses of Acharyans.

Which is the best profit?

The best profit a person can earn is good health. Even if a person is very rich but is suffering from illness, the person will not be able to enjoy the pleasures money can provide.

Which is the best item to be enjoyed?

Contentment is the best pleasure a person can have. If a person is not contented no matter what he/she possesses they will never be happy.

Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/02/yaksha-prashnam-questions-59-63.html

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Based on, Yaksha Prashnam - A discourse in Tamil by Sri U.Ve. Karunakaran Swamy
(Any errors or inconsistencies in the following series are due to the mistakes I made while taking notes. ) 

Copies of the CDs can be obtained from Sri Karunakaran Swami’s website http://www.nadadoor.org/ . This series is for the benefit of people who do not understand Tamil. Those of you who understand Tamil very well must definitely obtain a copy of Swami’s Upanyasam. You can do so by contacting Nadadoor.org. Swami also renders discourses in English but I am not sure if Yaksha Prashnam discourse is available in English.  The experience of listening to Swami’s upanyasams could never be obtained by reading the following series. I have done my best to take notes with due diligence. I apologize for any errors that I have made while writing this series.