Lakshman Rao U
Markandeya spoke in calm precision, his voice flowing like a slow river through the centuries, recounting how the turning of destiny stirred the lives of men and beasts alike, and how from each tide of fortune arose lessons for ages to come. When Vali fell in battle, the valiant Sugreeva was anointed as Lord of…
Markandeya, the sage of divine sight, narrated unto Dharmaraja the tale of Rama, the virtuous scion of Raghu, who bore hardships greater than any born of man. When the deceitful Maricha, mortally wounded by Rama’s arrow, uttered in dying agony a false cry in the voice of Rama himself, the cry reached Sita’s tender ears….
In many lands, the monkey-warriors are born by the favour of the gods, vast of limb, solidity of rock, hearts of diamond; some glitter like the noonday sun, their habits becoming their nature; they move as if lords of doom at the world’s ending, skilled in the arts of battle, their might equalling that of…
After being subdued and spared by the Pandavas, Jayadratha withdrew, his life preserved only for the sake of kinship with the Kuru house. Yet, blinded by pride and folly, he mistook mercy for insult, and in that mistaken fire, vengeance took root within him. He wandered to the sacred confluence of the Ganga, where the…
The forest murmured ill news as the Pandavas rode together. Yudhisthira, whose soul is the law itself, drew their attention to the tokens of dread: birds that called from the sunward quarter, beasts making strange, frantic cries and fleeing in all directions, an old fox howling and scuttling off — signs, he warned, of dishonour…
The sons of Kunti, wandering princes who had forsaken the comforts of court, had left Draupadi under the shelter of the hermitage of Trunabindu, where Sage Dhoumya tended her with the gentleness of one who knows the laws of Dharma; the forest itself, populous with ashrams of sages perfected in wisdom, breathed sweet perfumes from…
Vedavyasa, the sage of divine insight, once spoke to Dharmaja on the sacred law of charity. “Charity,” he said, “is to be given in its due time, at the proper place, and to one who is worthy to receive it.” To illustrate this, he narrated the story of the venerable sage Mudgala, whose humble gifts…
In the court of Hastinapura, Duryodhana, son of Dhritarashtra, sat upon his throne in full conceit of his strength and fortune. Around him stood Karna the son of a charioteer, the crafty Shakuni of Gandhara, his brother Dussasana, and a host of ministers who rejoiced in his arrogance. In that hour came Bhishma, the grandsire…
The son of Subala, wise in guile, continued his words to Duryodhana, the lord of the Kurus: “O prince, the sons of Pandu are your own kin; unite with them and rule this vast kingdom together. Peace shall dwell between your hearts, and glory shall encircle your crown like light upon the summit of a…
Ugraśravā, seated amidst the sages in the sacred forest of Naimiṣāraṇya, continued his narration to Śaunaka and the assembled seers. When Arjuna, transcending the bounds of mortal power, performed deeds beyond human reach, and when the cruel humiliation of Duryodhana met with the unbounded mercy of Dharma’s son, Janamejaya was filled with astonishment. A strange…
