My beloved students,
At the Swami Dhananjay Das Kathiababa Mission School you have embarked on a learning journey of a life time! As you keep gathering the gems of knowledge along the way, remember that the ultimate goal of any education is to build one’s character. No matter how much knowledge you gather, no matter how many degrees and certificates you obtain, what ultimately matters is your character.
Why?
To help you understand, let me narrate you a story that once upon a time, Debarshi Narada (God-sage Narada) had narrated. It’s a story of Devraj Indra (Indra - the King of Gods) and Bhakt Prahlada (Prahlada – the Devotee).
Prahlada was the son of Hiranyakashipu and his wife Kayadu. Hiranyakasipu, the king of Asuras (Demons) in the Patal (the Netherworld) was an evil soul who hated Bhagwan Vishnu (Lord Vishnu). He would spread misery and devastation everywhere. Prahlada was a polar opposite to his evil father. Prahlada believed in loving and respecting people and was also a staunch devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu. His devotion towards Bhagwan Vishnu irked his father to such an extent that he pronounced the death sentence for his son and later attempted to kill his son by his own hands. At that juncture Bhagwan Vishnu incarnated as the Narasimha Avatar and killed Hiranyaksipu to protect Prahlada.
After the death of Hiranyakasipu, Prahlada was crowned as the King of the Asuras in the Netherworld. It was Prahlada’s virtuous leadership that helped the Asuras conquer their intrinsic evil tendencies and live a happy and peaceful life. Later Prahlada extended his rule over the Earth and subsequently also over the Heaven by dethroning Devraj Indra. Thus Prahlada got to rule over the Troilakya (the three worlds) - the Heaven, Earth and Netherworld. Prahlada’s rule was like a golden rule. Peace and prosperity prevailed throughout the Troilokyo under his virtuous leadership.
Having lost his throne to Prahlada, Indra – the erstwhile Devraj was very sad and ashamed. He could not accept the fact that an Asura had not only dethroned him from the Heaven, but also made him feel so inconsequential through his sheer brilliance as a ruler of the Troilokyo. Restless as he was to get his lost throne back from Prahlada, Indra, one day, approached Brihaspati – his teacher and sought his advice.
Indra asked Brihaspati: “Sir, what is it that makes Prahlada so powerful? Please tell me so that I can acquire such power and get my throne back.”
Brihaspati told Indra, “Yes! Prahlada has something within him, which you don’t have. Think about what it is. Probably that will help you become as powerful and virtuous as him.”
Indra further asked Brihaspati: ‘Sir! What is it that Prahlada has within him? Please help me understand.” Brihaspati smiled and said: ‘My son, I taught you everything that I could. But, why don’t you reach out to
Shukracharya? He is the teacher of all Asuras and also the teacher of Prahlada. Probably he will be able to tell you certain things which I could not!’
As advised by Brihaspati, Indra went to meet Shukracharya and bowed before him.
‘Sir! There must be something really special about Prahlada that has made him even more powerful than me! Please tell me, what it is! I wish to practice the same and attain peace of mind!’
Shukracharya told Indra: “It is his virtue! That is the reason, Prahlada is more powerful than you! He knows what virtue is and practices it daily. That is the reason he is more powerful than you!”
Indra frowned: “But Sir, what is the nature of virtue?”
Shukracharya explained some more, but Indra still could not understand clearly.
Finally, Shukracharya told Indra: “Why don’t you go to Prahlada himself? He knows this path well and will be able to guide you much better than I ever will be!”
Indra was stunned. How does one go and ask one’s enemy the source of their power?
He again asked Shukracharya: ‘Sir! Why would Prahlada even tell me, how he is more powerful than me?’
Shukracharya wore an inexplicable smile on his face and uttered: ‘He will! That’s how he is.’
Indra’s mind was full of doubt, as he took leave of Shukracharya.
Indra thought if he approached Prahlada with his own identity, Prahlada might not reveal the real source of his power. Hence, Indra decided to approach Prahlada in the guise of a Rishi (sage).
Indra reached out to Prahlada and bowed in front of him, in the guise of a Rishi. Prahlada was occupied with his administrative work, when he saw a Rishi enter his court.
‘Sir, I am a Rishi. I have heard that you practice your virtues perfectly. I wish to understand the real nature of your virtues, so that I am also able to follow them! I shall be obliged if kindly allow me to be your
disciple.” said the Rishi.
Prahlada looked at the Rishi and his strange request. He thought for a while and then said: “I am ruling the three worlds, Rishi! I am extremely busy and what you have asked me is no simple thing. I probably cannot devote too much time to teach you.”
But the Rishi was unrelenting.
“Please sir! I will stay with you and look after you! I will do everything you want me to do, but please teach me…Teach me as per your own schedule…whenever you have some time!’ appealed the Rishi.
Upon the Rishi’s insistence, Prahalda finally had to agree.
Thus Indra, in the guise of the Rishi started serving Prahlada.
Slowly Indra managed to win Prahlada’s trust and favour through his service.
Finally, one day, Prahlada explained to the Rishi the source of his power.
“It is my character, Rishi! I have full control over my senses and my body and I maintain my good behavior under any and every circumstances. I never boast to others about how great I am. I obey my Gurus and elders whole-heartedly. Just the way honey bees acquire honey, I have acquired values and teachings from the scriptures and from my Gurus and elders. It is my character by means of which I rule over all the three worlds!”
Suddenly listening to Prahlada, Indra felt like somebody had flickered a light inside his head. He finally could understand what Brihaspati and Shukracharya were trying to explain to him.
So, it’s Character! Character was all that mattered! When a man had a strong character and never went against it, he would become exactly like Prahlad, Indra realized.
As Prahlada was talking he could see that Rishi was able to understand what he was trying to explain to him.
Pleased with the Rishi, Prahlada told: “I am very pleased with you, Rishi! You have learnt a difficult lesson in good time and have served me well during this period! For this I wish to grant you a boon! Any boon that you seek!”
The Rishi smiled at Prahlada and said in a calm and quiet manner ‘Sir, give me your character! That is the only boon I seek!’
Prahlada was aghast! The Rishi was asking for something which made him what he was! How could he give away his Character? But as someone who practiced all his virtues, Prahlada was bound by his own words – his own promise made to the Rishi. There was no way Prahlada could go back on it.
He nodded his head. ‘Very well Rishi, whoever you are, I gift you my Character!’
The Rishi expressed his gratitude to Prahlada, bowed low in front of him and took his leave.
After the Rishi left, Prahlada was sitting alone – unhappy and brooding. He knew he had given away something which could never be measured, something very precious…
As Prahlada sat, he felt a strong force leaving his own body. The light emanating from it was almost blinding.
Stunned Prahlada asked the force: ‘Who are you?’
A strong voice reverberated ‘I am your Character! You gave me away to the Rishi! So am I leaving you to go to him!’
Thus, Character disappeared from there to be with the Rishi (Indra), even before Prahlada could say anything in response.
Shocked Prahlada lay weakly on his throne, when he felt another powerful force leave his body.
‘Who are you?’ Prahlada asked.
The force said “I am Dharma (piousness). I used to live within you for so long. But I am bound by Character. Wherever character goes, I have no choice, but to follow it. Since Character has already left you, I too will have to leave you!”
Thus, Dharma followed Character to go to the Rishi (Indra).
After some time, another force emerged from Prahlada’s body.
Listlessly he asked: ‘Who are you?’
The force said ‘I am Truth! I used to live within you. But I am afraid, I cannot live where there is no Character. Hence, I too am leaving you!’
Thus, Truth followed suit.
After some time, another force came out of Prahlada.
Prahlada again asked: “Who are you?”
The force replied: “I am Good Deed. I am afraid, I cannot stay where there is no Character. So, I too am also leaving you.”
Thus left Good Deed.
After some time, Prahlada realized yet another force came out of his body.
Who are you? Asked Prahalada.
“I am Strength. Unfortunately, I also cannot stay where there is no Character. Hence, I am leaving you too.” Said the force.
Finally, a beautiful woman emerged from Prahlada’s body.
Prahalda asked ‘Who are you?’
‘I am Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune! I give peace and prosperity in anyone’s body I inhabit. Unfortunately, I can stay only where there is Character! As you have given away your Character to the Rishi, I am afraid I too will have to leave you and go to the Rishi”, said goddess Lakshmi.
Before leaving, Lakshmi revealed to Prahlada that actually the Rishi was Indra, who had by then grabbed everything that Prahlada had in himself, just because Prahlada had agreed to give away his character as a boon to him. Lakshmi disappeared as Prahlada sat through, drained out completely.
…. …. ….
So, my beloved students, have you understood by now, why I told you at the beginning that what ultimately mattered was your Character?
As you go ahead in your life’s journey, do keep in mind that Character is the basis of every other virtue or goal you may like to achieve in your life. If you do not have the right kind of Character, all your efforts may go in vein.
I hope the knowledge and teachings that will be imparted on you in our school will help you conquer any evil tendencies that you might have within you and transform them into godly virtues so that eventually you emerge as a holistic human being with a right kind of Character, just like Prahlada.
My blessings are always with you.
Charai beti (Keep going!)
Dr.Brindaban Bihari Das Kathiababa