Compiled  by London swaminathan

Article No. 1790;  Date 9th April 2015

Uploaded from London at   20–35

What is the most wonderful thing in the world? That was the question put by the Tree Spirit (Yaksha) to Yudhistira. And he answered the question:-

“The fact that people thinking themselves as stable and permanent, in spite of seeing several deaths daily is surprising”.

(Vana Parva, Mahabharata)

But he himself contradicted this at one time which surprised his brothers. There is an interesting story told by Swami Ramdas of Anandashram:-

“Once a poor man approached King Yudhistira, who was also called Dharmaraja, who strictly followed the path of virtue. He asked the king for some help.  Yudhistira said, “Come tomorrow, I will give you what you want”.

Yudhistira’s brother Bhimasena overheard this and at once ran to the place where a huge bell was hanging, and which was rung only when there was something important or in a matter of urgency. Bhimasena straightway rang the bell (Since India has only one culture from Himalayas to Kanyakumari we have a famous bell story in Tamil literature as well. I have given it already where a cow rang the bell at the palace of Manu Neethi Choza)

The ringing of the bell created great commotion everywhere. All the people assembled in front of the bell tower to ascertain the reason. Yudhistira was also surprised. Report came to him that Bhimasena had rung the bell. Bhimasena was called and asked for an explanation.

He replied, “We have gained a great victory today, victory over death for 24 hours. My brother Yudhistira asked a man to come tomorrow, saying that he would give him what he wanted.  It means till tomorrow Yudhistira is not going to die – which is triumph over death. This is a great victory”.

Yudhistira was awakened. He called the poor man back, gave him what he wanted and sent him away without waiting for the next day.

Tamil poet Valluvar wonders,

“The one, who was here yesterday, is no more today and

That is matter for great wonderment, in this world” – Tirukkural 336

Almost all the Indian poets have sung about the impermanence of life. In Tamil Brahmin houses, mothers would warn children if they say, “Mum, I want to eat it tomorrow or Make me this sweet tomorrow”. Mothers would say, “No don’t say that. You have to say if I live tomorrow” (similar to Insah Allah of Muslims= God Willing).

We are not sure if we shall live the next instant; what then is the meaning of all fancies and fantasies? Shakespeare apparently had the same thought in mind when he wrote about the momentariness of life thus:

“We are such stuff

As dreams are made on and our little life is rounded

In a sleep”

Indian Plane Accident

Dr S M Diaz in his commentary on the Tirukkural chapter – “Impermanence of the World” adds a sad story:–

“The circumstances of the gruesome Caravelle aircraft on the night of 11th October 1976 illustrates the point the poet had in mind. A hundred and nine passengers from Mumbai to Chennai were already air borne at 6 pm, when their aircraft was hit by a kite and had to return to base. After several hours a Caravelle aircraft was arranged to take only 89 passengers, leaving behind a protesting 20, because of smaller capacity. As the scheduled pilot did not possess a Caravelle licence, another one who had it, was pulled out of bed.

About 1-30 pm soon after taking off, the engine caught fire and the plane had to crash land at Santacruz airport (Mumbai) itself. All the 89 passengers and 6 members of the crew lost their lives.  The twenty who considered themselves unfairly left out escaped. That is life. The co- pilot who was pulled out of bed never knew he was going to die the next minute. It is as if the poet’s words had come true in a dramatic fashion over this unfortunate incident.

Thoughts such as Valluvar’s must have agitated Dag Hammarskjold (Secretary General of United Nations who died in a plane crash) when he recorded in his Markings published posthumously the following lines :-

“Tomorrow we shall meet

Death and I –

And he shall thrust his sword

Into one who is wide awake

But in the meantime how grievous the memory

Of hors frittered away”

Our bank balance (of life span) is depleted every second. No scientific instrument can regain the lost minute. Every minute before us is a bonus. We have to spend it wisely  — is the message of all the poets of the world from Vyasa to Valluvar, from Shakespeare to UN Secretary General.

Sources:

Tirukkural, Volume 1, Dr S M Diaz

Stories As tod by Swami Ramdas, B V Bhavan,Mumbai, 1969