… Continued from Part 1
Teacher : Swami, even Pothana did the same thing. When he couldn’t think of a verse, he stopped thinking and left it alone.
Swami : Pothana’s was a different story. He had composed a verse. (Swami recited a verse and gave its meaning.) When Pothana was meditating, Rama came and completed the verse for him. (Swami recited another verse here.) Those days, girls would always knot their hair. It was considered indecent to leave the hair loose. That is why in the Mahabharata when Duryodhana and his brothers tried to insult Draupadi by holding her hair; she vowed not to tie her hair till they would be destroyed. (Looking at a student) Which place do you come from?
Student : Swami, Chennai.
Swami : Which class?
Student : B.Sc. second year, Swami.
Swami : Which subject?
Student : Swami, M.P.C. (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry).
Swami : Is Mathematics – Science or Commerce?
Prof. A. K. : Swami, Mathematics is the mother of all sciences. It is called Ganita Shastram.
Swami : Where did it come from?
Warden : Swami, from the Vedas.
Swami : Ganita (mathematics), Sangeeta (music), and Sahitya (literature) - all came at one time. When?
Prof. A. K. : Swami, maybe different people started them.
Swami : It is not a Science. All the other subjects like Sankhya Shastra (arithmetic) are contained in it. 1234, 4321, 2341, and 3421 – all this is Sankhya Shastra. Once you know the subject, you can tell others about it.
(Shifting onto Mahabharata) How many Kauravas were there?
Prof. A. K. : Hundred, Swami.
Swami : How many Pandavas?
Prof. A. K. : Five, Swami.
Swami : Ashwatthama was Drona’s Kamaputra (son born out of desire). And Arjuna was his Premaputra (considered as son out of love). In Kamaputra’s presence he could not teach his Premaputra. So, he sent his son to play with the Kauravas. That is why he had wicked ideas. He ultimately killed Pandavas’ sons when they were sleeping in their tents. (Swami recited a poem describing this incident.) You won’t understand all this. There are many such facts. The Pandavas were enraged and they tied Ashwatthama up and brought him to Draupadi. She said, “O Ashwatthama! My sons had no anger or hatred towards you, nor did they ever harm you. Is it right on your part to kill young boys who are like your sons, when they didn’t even have their weapons?” Despite all this, she forgave him. Such was her greatness. Krishna said that there was none who was equal to Draupadi in all the worlds. She would always advise her husbands in the practice of Dharma.
Prof. A. K. : Swami, we have read about the greatness of Dharmaraja, but it is not mentioned anywhere that Draupadi had such great qualities.
Swami : She would advise her husbands on Dharma every time. Who was she? She was ‘Agni Putri’ (daughter born out of the auspicious fire). The ladies were so great. Harishchandra was a great follower of truth because he had a wife like Chandramati.
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| King Harishchandra, his wife Chandramati and son Lohitaksh in dire circumstances |
Prof. A. K. : But Swami, it is said that he always kept his word.
Swami : That was because she was always there to support him.
Prof. A. K. : Does that mean that Harishchandra couldn’t have been truthful if Chandramati was not there?
Swami : No. He would still be truthful. But I am saying that even women were great and noble those days. All the boys are wondering what Swami is talking about. They can’t hear Me.
Prof. A. K. : Swami, they can hear.
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| Prof. Nageswar Rao with Sri Sathya Sai |
Swami : Go there and sit with them, then you will know.
(Looking at a teacher) What Nageswar Rao (Deputy Warden of the Hostel), you have become so thin. Don’t you eat well?
Prof. A. K. : Swami, he doesn’t grow in weight and we don’t reduce in weight!
(All laugh.)
Swami : Perigite Paravaledu, Virigitene Nashtam. (It is all right to grow in weight, but one shouldn’t break down.) What is your weight?
Teacher : 40 kgs Swami.
Swami : 40? Then it is ok. If it were 60, it may break. When can one be happy? When one gets something, which doesn’t come down with time. When does this happen? When there are no desires. From the last 60 years, My weight has been 108 pound more or less. (To Sri Bhagia, Faculty Member, School of Business Management at Swami’s University) What Bhagia? Is your name, Bhagia or Bhatia?
Bhagia : Bhagia, Swami.
Swami : What is meaning of Bhagia?
Bhagia : Good fortune, Swami.
Swami : Are you happy?
Bhagia : Yes, Swami.
Swami : Sometimes you are not happy. (Sri Bhagia remained silent. Then Swami said something in Telugu which Sri Bhagia did not understand.)
Bhagia : I don’t know Telugu, Swami.
Swami : Sometimes worrying for daughter only.
Bhagia : Swami’s grace is required. Swami knows everything.
Swami : I know, I know… (To Prof. Anil Kumar) What are you thinking? Picchivaadini Anukuntunnava? (Do you think I am mad?) I don’t have your madness, and you don’t have My madness. Your madness is about worldly things, and My madness is about Bliss.
(Looking at a student) How are you?
Student : Your grace, Swami.
Swami : How is mother?
Student : She’s much better now.
Swami : (To Prof. Anil Kumar) His mother had a serious disease. From top to toe skin problem. She couldn’t even sit for Darshan. I told her not to worry and that I will take care. Now she is fine.
Swami then blessed the birthday boys and went into the interview room. After Bhajans, Swami retired to the Poornachandra residence.
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