As the celebration of the svayaṃvara started, the crowd at the venue kept growing; actors and dancers entertained them and were rewarded with precious gems. Fifteen days passed this way and on the sixteenth day, Draupadī took her sacred bath, wore a grand sari and decked herself with magnificent ornaments. She held a golden vīra-kalaśa and entered the stage. As she entered, the musical instruments grew silent and Dṛṣṭadyumna entered the stage. With a voice that was as deep as thunder, he announced, “Dear kings! Pay attention!
Author:A R Krishna Sastri
रसाभासरूपेण नूनं किलैतान्प्रवच्मो वयं नान्यथा विद्यमानान्। यदा वाऽऽग्रहास्तादृशा लोकबाह्या भवेयुस्तदा ते जने नीरसास्स्युः॥३३॥
अतो ह्यवादीद्ध्वनिकृत्पुरैव रसास्तदाभासमुखास्समस्ताः। रसादिरुपेण कृतौ प्रतिष्ठा व्यङ्ग्याध्वनि स्वादपरा भवन्ति[1]॥३४॥
रावणव्यपदेशेन यल्लोचनकृदीरितम्। तत्कवेस्तु विवक्षाया अधीनमिति मन्मतम् [2]॥३५॥
अनया हि दृष्ट्या तदेवमभ्युपगम्यते यन्महाकाव्य-महाकथा(Epic Novel)-नाटक-प्रकरणादयो नितरां भूमभावभरिता गुरुसाहित्यप्रकाराः प्रविलसन्तीति। किन्तु खण्डकाव्य-गीतकाव्य(रागकाव्य)-मुक्तक-प्रहसन-नाटिका-भाणादिरञ्जनमात्रावसिता लघुसाहित्यप्रकारा इत्यप्यनुमीयते। परमिदमवधेयं यत्काव्यस्य लघुत्वं वा गुरुत्वं गात्रमात्रेण न निश्चीयते किञ्च गात्रस्यापि कापि गुणवत्ता दरीदृश्यते। यदाहुराङ्ग्लेयवाचि— “Quantity is also a quality” इति। तथापि समृद्धविभावानुभावादिसमग्रीनिर्माणक्षमा वक्रोक्तिमाध्यमद्वारा ध्वन्यमाना परमौचित्यवल्गिता साहिती या कापि रसिकानां रसानन्दमहोत्सवे पर्यवस्यतीति निश्चप्रचम्। केवलं गुरुसाहित्यप्रकार
मुरलिकामरुता मरुतामपि श्रुतिचयं शिशिरीकुरुते च यः। जगति कामरुतार्तजनावन- व्यसनितालसनोऽस्तु मुदे स नः॥१॥
आत्मानुभूतिमुकुरे परिदृश्यमानं भावप्रपञ्चसकलं निरपेक्ष्यदीप्त्या । सार्वत्रिकानुभवमात्रकषप्रमृष्टं मन्ये सुवर्णमयभूषणमित्यजस्रम्॥२॥
If some amount of inertia has crept into the framework of Sanatana Dharma in our age, the responsibility for reinvigorating it falls squarely on our shoulders. If we wish to reject something, we need to first think about providing a better alternative. If we wish to decry Valentine’s Day, we need to provide an alternative by reviving either the Madanotsava or the Vasantotsava [typically celebrated during the Holi festival] from the annals of our hoary, bounteous and beautiful tradition.
'The study of philosophy is more essential to a king than to common people’, says Musonius. He explains this to one of the kings of Syria who came to him. His idea that a king should study philosophy seems to have its origin in Plato’s concept of philosopher-kings. (Rajarshis). Musonius says that it is the job of the philosopher to diagnoise good and evil, useful and useless, helpful and harmful. A king must study philosophy, otherwise, it will not be clear that he knows justice and what a just decision is.
Musonius Rufus! A totally unfamiliar name, until I came across the “Discourses ” by Epictetus.
When my young friend Arjun Bharadwaj who has learnt Greek and German and holds Masters degrees in Sanskrit and Engineering gave me some writings regarding the life and lectures of Gaius Musonius Rufus, I was quite amazed to read his views that were so liberal, free from bias, so relevant to all ages. He has covered a wide range of topics, such as philosophy, education of women, marriage, family life and homosexuality.
[The following sub-stories appear in the Ādi Parva of the Mahābhārata, Adhyāyas 158–74] The brave Pāṇḍavas travelled day and night and arrived at a holy place called Somaśravāyaṇam. Arjuna, the bravest among them all, carried a fire-stick to light their path and also as a means of protection. In an isolated corner of the Gaṅgā, the king of the Gandharvas was engaged in water-sports with several women. He heard the Pāṇḍavas approaching and was enraged.
तिर्यग्जन्तुभिः सह मानवः कतिपयांशेषु साम्यमावहति। आहार-निद्रा-भय-मैथुनानीत्येतानि सर्वजन्तुसाधारणानि; यानि मूलभूतचोदनानीति कथ्यन्ते। प्रथमं तावदेतेषां स्वरूपं परिशीलयामः।
To analyse and explore the roots of life, the nature of truth and evil and to probe into human relations, Dr. SL Bhyrappa makes use of myths, legends, rituals and rites in his novels. This gives him ample scope to comprehend contemporary life against the backdrop of the past, and to interpret the past from the contemporary view point. Myths related to natural phenomena such as rain, the spring season, rivers, floods, mountains, cataracts and eclipses are effectively used in ‘Vamshavruksha’, ‘Jalapatha’, ‘Grahana’, ‘Parva’ and other works.