Saturday, April 24, 2010

things without which a meaningful life is not possible

यक्ष
धन्यानां उत्तमं किंस्विद् धनानां किंस्विद् उत्तमं
लाभानां उत्तमं किंस्विद् किं सुखानां तथोत्तमं
युधिष्टिर
धन्यानां उत्तमं दाक्ष्यं धनानां उत्तमं श्रुतम्
लाभानम् श्रेष्टं आरोग्यं सुखानां तुष्तिरुत्तमा
महभारतं वनपर्वं यक्षप्रश्नं
yakṣa
dhanyānāṁ uttamaṁ kiṁsvid dhanānāṁ kiṁsvid uttamaṁ
lābhānāṁ uttamaṁ kiṁsvid kiṁ sukhānāṁ tathottamaṁ
yudhiṣṭira
dhanyānāṁ uttamaṁ dākṣyaṁ dhanānāṁ uttamaṁ śrutam
lābhānam śreṣṭaṁ ārogyaṁ sukhānāṁ tuṣtiruttamā
mahabhārataṁ vanaparvaṁ yakṣapraśnaṁ
yakṣa
dhanyānāṁ uttamaṁ kiṁsvid dhanānāṁ kiṁsvid uttamaṁ
lābhānāṁ uttamaṁ kiṁsvid kiṁ sukhānāṁ tathottamaṁ
yudhiṣṭira
dhanyānāṁ uttamaṁ dāksyaṁ dhanānāṁ uttamaṁ śrutam
lābhānam śresṭaṁ ārogyaṁ sukhānāṁ tuṣtiruttamā
mahabhārataṁ vanaparvaṁ yakṣapraśnaṁ

യക്ഷഃ
ധന്യാനാം ഉത്തമം കിംസ്വിദ് ധനാനാം കിംസ്വിദുത്തമം
ലാഭാനാം ഉത്തമം കിംസ്വിദ് കിം സുഖാനാം തഥോത്തമം
യുധിഷ്ഠിരഃ
ധന്യാനാം ഉത്തമം ദാക്ഷ്യം ധനാനാം ഉത്തമംശ്രുതം
ലാഭാനാംശ്രേഷ്ഠമാരോഗ്യം സുഖാനാം തുഷടിരുത്തമാ


The Yaksha asked,--'What is the best of all laudable things? What is the most valuable of all his possessions? What is the best of all gains? And what is the best of all kinds of happiness
' Yudhishthira answered,--"The best of all laudable things is skill; the best of all possessions is knowledge: the best of all gains is health: and contentment is the best of all kinds of happiness.'

This is another sloka from the celebrated  Yaksha Prasnam... the cirucustances leading to the dialogue were explained two days ago. 
Precision and dexterity in one's chosen field of work is the most praiseworthy possession of any person. If one has the efficiency in work, he need not run after others showcasing his virtues but like bees coming in search of flowers with honey, people will queue at his doorsteps to make use of his service. 
The Greatest wealth one can have is the wealth of knowledge.. This wealth can be accumulated without facing competition from others, it does not get diminished ever if one gives away the whole of it to others,  no robber can steal it.  
The ultimate profit one can derive from this life is wholesome health.  Without health all other faculties one possesses could be utilised only to  a limited extent. Once health is lost, knowledge and dexterity also declines.  Kalidasa said, Sareeramaadhyam khalu dharmasaadhanam....the health of the body is the vehicle for attaining the dharma.
And coming to the question of what is real pleasure,  it is none other than the state of happiness and fulfilment one attains after a satisfying pursuit.

Remember Jefferson the great statesman and the third President of USA made a sweeping remark about the human indenpend
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

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