Vidur Niti - 2: The Stupid

Having begun by talking about the traits of learned people, Vidura then talked 'stupid'. If the learned can be described and identified by certain qualities, then the stupid should be the ones who lack those attributes. Yes, but Vidura made it a point to list the characteristics of the stupid.

Vidura doesn't say that not being learned is a sign of being stupid. Not being learned yet vain, being poor yet proud - are two signs of the stupid. It may sound cruel, but it's also a harsh acknowledgment of reality. "Striving for artha but without performing deeds" is a third sign of stupidity. Lest one is tempted to argue with that third, note that even the corrupt and crooked have to make some efforts to acquire wealth. They may not do so through honest means, but that is a moral question.

What else marks the stupid?

Vidura Niti - 1 Sleeplessness and a Message

When does sleeplessness takes over? When a "weak one is attacked by a stronger enemy, if one’s faculties are weak, if one has lost everything to a lecher or a thief, one is overcome by sleeplessness."

Such is the start of the counsel given by Vidura to the blind king Dhritarashtra.

Why had sleeplessness overtaken him?

Because Sanjay had taken the king's permission to go sleep!

Because Sanjay had returned from an unsuccessful journey to Upalavya where he had been sent by the king with instructions to not say anything that would incite the Pandavas to war. 

Because, while Sanjay had told Dhritarashtra what he thought, he had still not delivered Ajatshatru's message for the king, which he would do only in the morning.

The morning that was yet to come filled Dhritarashtra with dread.

And thus sleeplessness.

Devi Mahatmya - 13

Devi Mahatmya - Markandeya Purana, tr. by Bibek Debroy

Ch 11 - Chapter 13 (Ch 89 in the book)

Rishi Sumedha concluded his account of the Devi Mahatmya, telling both king Suratha and the vaishya Sumadhi that the cause of their attachment and discontentment was on account of Mahamaya. He advised them to seek refuge in Parameshvari. Both Suratha and Samadhi took leave of the sage and went on to worship the goddess. By the banks of a river, they fashioned an earthen image of the goddesss and worshipped her. Satisfied, Chandika manifested herself in front of them and offered them boons. The king asked that he get a kingdom that could not be vanquished in his next life, while the vaishya asked for the wisdom (gnana) to rid his mind of the sense of 'me' and 'mine' that afflicted him. 

The goddess gave king Suratha the boon that he would not only regain his kingdom in a few days, but in the next life, he would be born as Savarnika to the god Vivasvat, and go on to become Savarni Manu. The vaishya would obtain the gnana he desired.

This ends Devi Mahatmya.🙏🕉

Reference: Markandeya Purana, translated by Bibek Debroy. Published by Penguin, 2019. The Devi Mahatmya is covered in chapters 78-90 of the Markandeya Purana. 

© 2020, Abhinav Agarwal (अभिनव अग्रवाल). All rights reserved.

Devi Mahatmya - 12

Devi Mahatmya - Markandeya Purana, tr. by Bibek Debroy

Ch 11 - Chapter 12 (Ch 89 in the book) - Ch 13

In this chapter, the goddess describes the benefits of chanting this stuti, and says that this is a description of the destruction of the asuras Madhu and Kaitabha, Mahishasura, and Shumbh and Nishumbha. If recited according to proper rites, this mahatmya would remove all calamity and suffering. This mahatmya, the goddess said, must be read with a controlled mind, listened to with devotion, and quell epidemics, evil portents, and three kinds of calamities (Adhyatmika, adhidaivika and adhibhoutika). If read properly at a place, the devi would make that her abode. A man who listened to her account would be freed from fear, his lineage is satisfied, his enemies are vanquished. Children are freed from demons who may have seized them. Its reading assures the destruction of rakshasas, bhutas, and pishachas.

Thus the goddess continued. After she had finished, she vanished. Finishing his account, the rishi told the king that the goddess pervaded the entire brahmanda, was Mahakali at the time of the time of the great destruction, is the great epidemic (mahamaari), she is without birth, is the cause of all creation, and resides in the homes in the form of Lakshmi, and when absent, resides in the form of Alakshmi.

Reference: Markandeya Purana, translated by Bibek Debroy. Published by Penguin, 2019. The Devi Mahatmya is covered in chapters 78-90 of the Markandeya Purana. 

© 2020, Abhinav Agarwal (अभिनव अग्रवाल). All rights reserved.

Devi Mahatmya - 11

Devi Mahatmya - Markandeya Purana, tr. by Bibek Debroy

Ch 10 - Chapter 11 (Ch 88 in the book) - Ch 12

With both Shumbha and Nishumbha dead, the gods, lead by Indra and Agni, praised the goddess. This is known as Narayani-stuti. Specifically, 18 shlokas in this chapter are referred to as the Narayani-stotram.

Saluting her as Vishweshvari, Ishvari, Vaishnavi, the gods praised her as the mother of all gods, as one who removed all ills, who could not be conquered in valour, who should be praised, but for whom words were insufficient to praise.

Addressing her as Narayani, the gods prostrated themselves before her, chanting that she existed in the form of kala, kashtha, and other portions of time, whose power led to the destruction of the universe, whose eternal power was behind the creation, preservation, and destruction of the universe, who was full of gunas, and so on. They praised her qualities in her different forms, like Narayani, Gouri, Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Maheshvari, Koumari, Varahi, Narasimhi, Aindri, Shivaduti, Lakshmi, Lajja, Vidya, Shraddha, Pushti, Svadha, Dhruva, Maharatri, Mahamaya, Saraswati, Babhravi (who grants boons of victory), Durga, Katyayani, Bhadrakali, Chandika, Ambika, they prayed to her to protect them from all sin. She was the refuge for men who never suffered, and who in turn became the refuge for others, and asked the goddess to confer a boon.

The goddess obliged and asked the gods to ask for a boon. The gods wanted the goddess to vanquish their enemies.

Devi then said that when the twenty-eighth yuga (dvapara) of the Vaivasvata manvantara arrived, there would be two other great asuras - Shumbha and Nishumbha - would be born. She would be born through Yashoda's womb and kill them. She would also destroy the danavs in Viprachitti's lineage, and in that form would be known as Rakdadantika.After a drought of a hundred years, she would appear in a form that would be known as Shatakshi (since should glance upon the sages with a hundred eyes) and sustain the world with vegetables. In that form, she would be known as Shakambhari. She would slay an asura named Durgama, and come to be known as Durga. She would also be known as Bhima. To slay a rakshasa named Arunaksha, she would assume the form of bees, and would be known as Bhramari.

In summary, she assured the gods that whenever danavas caused trouble, she would arise to vanquish them.

Reference: Markandeya Purana, translated by Bibek Debroy. Published by Penguin, 2019. The Devi Mahatmya is covered in chapters 78-90 of the Markandeya Purana. 

© 2020, Abhinav Agarwal (अभिनव अग्रवाल). All rights reserved.

Devi Mahatmya - 10

Devi Mahatmya - Markandeya Purana, tr. by Bibek Debroy

Ch 9 - Chapter 10 (Ch 87 in the book) - Ch 11

With Nishumbha killed, Shumbha taunted Durga that she had been able to fight as long as she had only with the help of many other gods and goddesses. The goddess responded that she was only one, all others were her own manifestations. All the other goddesses entered into her and only Ambika remained.

The battle began again between the goddess and Shumbha. Divine weapons were unleashed, by both Ambika and Shumbha the daitya. His weapons, however, were destroyed by Parameshvari with a mere humkara! The asura used arrows, sword, to attack. All of them were, however brought down by the goddess. She then destroyed his chariot, slew his horses and charioteer. Shumbha rushed at Chandika to bludgeon her with his bare fists, striking her chest with his fists. The goddess, however, was unmoved and slapped the asura, who fell down. Rising again, he grabbed the goddess and rose up in the sky, where the battle between the two continued. 

After a long battle in the skies, Ambika hurled the asura to the ground. Before he could get up to strike again, she pierced him with her trident, finally killing him.

With his death, the entire world turned pleasant. The skies became clear, rivers began to flow again, a gentle breeze started to flow, sacrificial fires resumed blazing. 

Reference: Markandeya Purana, translated by Bibek Debroy. Published by Penguin, 2019. The Devi Mahatmya is covered in chapters 78-90 of the Markandeya Purana. 

© 2020, Abhinav Agarwal (अभिनव अग्रवाल). All rights reserved.

Devi Mahatmya - 9

Devi Mahatmya - Markandeya Purana, tr. by Bibek Debroy

Ch 8 - Chapter 9 (Ch 86 in the book) - Ch 10

King Suratha exclaims that the Devi mahatmya, as recounted by the sage Sumedha, has been wonderful, and now he wishes to know more. What happened after Raktabija was killed by the goddess, what did Shumbha and Nishumbha do. The brahman continued his account.

Nishumbha marched with another army, surrounded by asuras on all sides, as did Shumbha. As expected, a terrible battle was again fought between the two asuras and Chandika. After Nishumbha had struck her lion with a sharp sword, she used a sharp-edged arrow to cut down his sword. A spear hurled by Nishumbha was split in two by her chakra, a trident shattered to pieces with her fist! The daitya finally advanced towards her with a battleaxe, but was brought down by Chandika. 

It was now the turn of Shumbha, who proceeded in his chariot, weapons in each of his eight arms. Ambika readied herself with a twang of her bow and by blowing her conch. After a long battle, Shumbha was struck by Chandika's trident, and he too fell down, senseless. 

Nishumbha, in the meantime, had regained consciousness, enveloped Kali with ten-thousand chakras from his ten-thousand arms. She cut all of them down and soon pierced his heart with a trident. But another man emerged from within. An unperturned Chandika cut off his head with her sword. With Nishumbha killed, her lion devoured asuras, and Koumari, Shivaduti, Maheshvari, Brahmani, Varahi, Vaishnavi, Aindri, and Kali all killed a great number of asuras on the battlefield.

Reference: Markandeya Purana, translated by Bibek Debroy. Published by Penguin, 2019. The Devi Mahatmya is covered in chapters 78-90 of the Markandeya Purana. 

© 2020, Abhinav Agarwal (अभिनव अग्रवाल). All rights reserved.

Devi Mahatmya - 8

 

Devi Mahatmya - Markandeya Purana, tr. by Bibek Debroy

Ch 7 << Chapter 8 (Ch 85 in the book) >> Ch 9

With both Chanda and Munda killed by Kali, Shumbha was filled with rage and ordered the most fearsome of warriors to assemble and march to battle. 

Devi Mahatmya - 7

Devi Mahatmya - Markandeya Purana, tr. by Bibek Debroy

Ch 6 << Chapter 7 (Ch 84 in the book) >> Ch 8

C
handa and Munda, along with their army, made their way back to where the goddess was. A slight smile played on her lips. However, as soon as the battle started, her face turned black as ink because of rage, her brows furrowed, and from the base of her forehead, Kali emerged, with a sword and noose. Not only that, she wore a garland of human skulls and held a colourful khatvanga (a staff with a skull on top).

Devi Mahatmya - 6

Devi Mahatmya - Markandeya Purana, tr. by Bibek Debroy

Ch 5 << Chapter 6 (Ch 83 in the book) >> Ch 7

S
ugreeva was filled with rage at the goddess' insolence, and rushed to deliver this message to Shumbha. Shumbha summoned his general, Dhumralochana, and ordered him to bring that evil woman (दुष्टा) in front of him, dragging her by the hair, and to kill anyone who tried to save her.

Devi Mahatmya - 5

Devi Mahatmya - Markandeya Purana, tr. by Bibek Debroy

Ch 4 << Chapter 5 (Ch 82 in the book) >> Ch 6

R
ishi Sumedha continued his account of the goddess. Devi Ambika had acceded to the gods' request to help them when needed. Eventually, the asura brothers Shumbh and Nishumbha rose to power, usurped Indra's throne, and appropriated the rights of Surya, Chandra, Kubera, Yama, Varuna, Pavana and Agni. The gods remembered the goddess' boon to them to manifest herself when the gods beseeched her.

Devi Mahatmya - 4

Devi Mahatmya - Markandeya Purana, tr. by Bibek Debroy

Ch 3 << Chapter 4 (Ch 81 in the book) >> Ch 5

W
ith Mahishasura dead, the gods now praised the goddess. Everything in the world had been created through her powers, the gods, including Brahma, Hari, and Hara, lacked the powers to describe her powers. She was Shri for those who did good and Alakshmi to those who were evil. Such was her form and her powers that they, the gods, could not describe them. She was the hymns of the Rig Veda and Sama Veda, and the reservoir of beautiful songs of the Sama Veda.She was Durga, she was Shri, she was Gouri. Her vanquishing Mahishasura was proof that those who angered her were destroyed. Those who pleased her were blessed with prosperity. Her form, which created fear in the enemy, couldn't be compared with anything. All the gods said they bowed before her. Addressing her as Ambika, Chandi, Ishvari, the gods entreated her to save them with her weapons, to save them in all directions, in all the three worlds.

Pleased with the gods' praise and worship, the goddess said that she had accomplished what they had asked her to, and that no other difficult task remained for her to accomplish. The gods agreed with Maheshvari, but prayed that if there were trouble again and the gods prayed to her, she would manifest herself again. Bhadrakali agreed, and vanished.

It thus came to pass that the goddess had to manifest herself again, from Gouri's body, for slaying the asuras Shumbha and Nishumbha.


Reference: Markandeya Purana, translated by Bibek Debroy. Published by Penguin, 2019. The Devi Mahatmya is covered in chapters 78-90 of the Markandeya Purana.



© 2020, Abhinav Agarwal (अभिनव अग्रवाल). All rights reserved.

Devi Mahatmya - 3

Devi Mahatmya - Markandeya Purana, tr. by Bibek Debroy

Ch 2 << Chapter 3 (Ch 80 in the book) >> Ch 4

D
evi Ambika severed Chikshura's standard, bow, destroyed his chariot, killed his horses and charioteer. Finally, Bhadrakali hurled her trident at him, shattering the asura into a hundred pieces.

Devi Mahatmya - 2

Devi Mahatmya - Markandeya Purana, tr. by Bibek Debroy

Ch 1 << Chapter 2 (Ch 79 in the book) >> Ch 3

H
aving told both Suratha and Samadhi how Mahamaya was praised by Brahma, how Vishnu was awakenied, who then proceeded to kill the asuras, Madhu and Kaitabha, Sumedha now proceeds to tell the two the powers of the goddess.

Devi Mahatmya - 1

Devi Mahatmya - Markandeya Purana, tr. by Bibek Debroy

Ch 1  (Ch 78 in the book) >> Ch 2

O
f the five sections in the Markandeya Purana, the Devi Mahatmya is the fourth. While ascribing a date to one of the oldest Puranas is difficult, one estimate is that the Markandeya Purana was composed no later than the 4th century CE, and the Devi Mahatmya most likely by the 6th century CE. Bibek Debroy uses the Sanskrit text brought out by Nag Publishers in 1983 for this translation, which gives us 6,449 shlokas.

Of which the Devi Mahatmya comprises a little under six-hundred shlokas, contained between chapters 78 and 90. Introductory verses added to the Devi Mahatmya result in 700 shlokas, and that is known as the "Chandi or Durga Saptashati (seven hundred)".

Best books I read in 2019 and 2018

I
 will cheat a bit here. I did not read as many books as I would have liked in 2019, so I will include 2018 in this list. Since I do not have any compulsions to do a "Top-10" kind of a list, here are all the books I read and found interesting, notable, or memorable.

Nuclear energy has for the past several decades struggled for acceptance as a viable and safe source of safe power, despite evidence to the contrary. Its cause was not helped by the Three-Mile Island reactor meltdown in Pennsylvania in 1979, or the Fukushima Daiichi accident in 2011. But the accident that people most remember, and the one that was as symbolically representative of the meltdown of the Soviet Union as of the actual meltdown of reactor number 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukrained in 1986 is captured in this highly engaging read -Midnight at Chernobyl. It is a vivid account of the events that led to the fateful night, to the immediate aftermath and frantic efforts by the crew to contain the damage, to the initial disbelief in the corridors of power, to the belated realization and rescue efforts. The author covers the nuclear physics part of it early on, in easy to understand terms. Even though the death-toll from the accident was not catastrophic, which led some to conclude that the accident itself was not, it is the aftermath of the meltdown that makes for the most absorbing reading. Much to the dismay of proponents of nuclear fuel as a safe, clean alternative to fossil fuels, this book makes it difficult to enthusiastically advocate nuclear energy.

Krishna Yogeshwara, by Sanjay Dixit - Review

Krishna Yogeshvara - The Dice of Kutil Dharma (Book 2 of the Lord Krishna Trilogy)

Amazon India

Agendas and subversion; free will and agency – a contemporaneous and timeless tale, retold

T
he second book in Sanjay Dixit's Lord Krishna trilogy, 'Krishna Yogeshvara', takes the reader from Rukmini's abduction to the start of the war in Kurukshetra and Arjuna's laying down of arms in the middle of the battlefield. We see and hear Krishna's journey from Mathura to Dwarka from Uddhav's eyes and words. This journey is both geographical and metaphorical. The metaphorical is Krishna's evolution from a cowherd (gopeshvara) in Mathura and Vrindavan to a yogi (yogeshvara) in Dwarka through his education at the hands of guru Sandipani along with Sudama and others.

Lessons from Mahabharata: Black, White, and Coloured Too

T
he Mahabharata has lived for thousands of years for the reason that it serves as that vast ocean human emotions in which everyone can pour their own understanding and find acceptance without judgment.

There is an innate human desire to see and interpret things in a monochromatic palette of black-and-white. One could argue that stereotyping is an "energy-saving" device that allows us to make "efficient decisions on the basis of past experiences." ("Stereotypes as energy-saving devices: A peek inside the cognitive toolbox") . Therefore, is it any surprise that many of us look at the characters in the Mahabharata also through similar, stereotypical lenses? It simplifies things if we view Duryodhana as the jealous usurper, Shakuni as the manipulative uncle, Bhishma as the noble but helpless elder, Arjuna as the hero, Karna as the tragic and righteous hero fighting on the wrong side, and so on. No, it is not quite proper or kosher to include in this group of admirers (and critics) of the Mahabharata those that bring their own neuroses and neo-colonial prejudices!

Markandeya Purana, tr by Bibek Debroy

The Markandeya Purana, translated by Bibek Debroy

Amazon IN, Kindle IN

A
s far as Puranas go, the Markandeya Purana is the shortest Puranas. It is nowhere as long as the Skanda Purana (81,000 shlokas) or the Padma Purana (55,000). For more reasons than one, I like the Markandeya Purana a lot. The most obvious one is that it begins with questions about the Mahabharata. Those maddening, unending, unanswerable questions about the Mahabharata that anyone and everyone would have asked - why did the nirguna Janardana assume a human form? Why did Droupadi have to have five husbands? Why did Balarama have to travel to the tirthas to atone for the sin of killing a brahmana? And why did the sons of Droupadi have to die the death they did? Remember that they were killed after the war, in their sleep, by the son of Drona.

Lessons from Mahabharata: Envy – II

I
n the first part of this two part series focusing on the emotion of Envy, we learnt that despite the popular belief and the main proponent of the emotion in the epic tale, Duryodhan wasn't the only person driven by envy.

Let us now continue with more examples of envy as we meander through other stories and in the process receive our lessons from Mahabharata. While we are at it, let’s also see if there is some common thread connecting them.

Having married Droupadi and having settled in Indraprastha, the Pandvas were once visited by the sage Narada. They all greeted the sage, and after Droupadi left, Narada had a pointed question for the Pandavas. Given Droupadi’s beauty, how were they going to head off the green-headed monster that was envy? To illustrate his point, he told them the story of the two invincible asuras Sunda and Upasunda, who once lived in Kurukshetra. Yes, all roads did seem to lead to Kurukshetra.