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Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama: 

 

The Six Questions

 

Acquisition of knowledge is always through the asking of questions. Most of the 
significant inventions and discoveries that have revolutionised our lives were 
the result of questions that arose in the minds of scientists or would-be 
scientists. We are told that the child's brain expands exponentially from birth 
to the fifth year--this again is reflected in the innumerable queries that 
children pose to their parents and to whomsoever would listen.

 

 In the spiritual sphere too, it is questions which have revealed to seers the 
esoteric truths about themselves and their Maker. In fact, an entire Upanishad, 
the Kenopanishad, is in the form of questions and answers thereto, which teach 
us all that we need to know about the Lord and His attributes. The Upanishad 
begins with the omnibus question as to who is the moving spirit behind the 
activities of the mind, life spirit, speech, eyes and ears-

 

"Kena ishitam patati preshitam mana: kena praana: prathama: preti yukta:

  Kena ishitaam vaacham imaam vadanti chakshu: shrotram ka u Devo    yunakti".

 

 The rest of the Upanishad consists of the Acharya's enlightening responses to 
these questions. 

 

Another gem of the same genre is the Prasnopanishad, which too describes 
illustrious disciples in search of the Paramatma, seeking enlightenment through 
questions addressed to Pippalaada Maharshi. It is instructive to note that even 
though the Maharshi is aware of the credentials of the seekers, still, he 
advises them to perform penance for a year, and then come to him with their 
queries. This is required, so that the receivers of knowledge appreciate its 
value. 

 

At the end of the prescribed period, Kabandhee, son of Kaatyaayana, queries 
Pippalaada as to where all the creation stems from-"Bhagavan! Kuto ha vaa imam: 
prajaa: prajaayante?"

 

Another guide book of instructions which was born out of questions is the 
acclaimed Epic Srimad Ramayanam. It is in response to the pointed queries of 
Sri Valmiki, seeking to know who was the sole repository of various virtues, 
("Konvasmin saampratam loke gunavaan kascha veeryavaan"),that Sri Narada comes 
out with the exalted Rama charitam.

Not only this, an entire chapter (100th Sargam of Ayodhya Kaandam), of about 75 
slokas, is comprised of questions, put by Sri Rama to Bharata. These queries 
relate to good governance, welfare of those near and dear, etc. Known as the 
"Kacchit" Sargam, this chapter gives us a lot of information on how advanced 
the system of administration and justice was, in the Kosala Rajyam.

 

We see thus that the Question has had an extremely important place in the 
spread of knowledge, secular and spiritual.

 

However, are questions necessary? Shouldn't a wise man reveal to others all 
that he knows unprompted, so that the spread of wisdom is quick and easy, 
without waiting for someone to raise questions?

 

"Do not volunteer information, especially spiritual, without being asked 
earnestly therefor", say the Shastras, which are categorical that none should 
be taught esoteric truths without an ardent yearning therefor, so that the 
pearls of wisdom are not cast before swine of the spiritual sphere. No Acharya 
should impart religious instruction without earnest and ardent questioning by a 
sincere seeker. In a lighter vain, Upanyaasakas point out the case of Arjuna, 
to whom Sri Krishna revealed all , without the former ardently seeking the 
same-at the end, Arjuna tells Gitacharya that the elaborate discourse he had 
heard till then was confusing, beseeching the latter to let him know in a 
nutshell what was good for him.

 

And when you do have a substantial question as did the sages of Prasnopanishad, 
how should you approach your Guru for enlightenment? The student should go to 
the Acharya with all humility and an earnest desire to know. He should take the 
Acharya an offering, however humble ("Samith paanim shrotriyam Brahma 
nishttam"). And there is a time and place for questions-you should not 
interrupt the teacher when he is in full flow, but should bide your time till 
he asks, "Any questions?" This we learn from Swami Desikan's Nyaasa Vimsati, 
where he emphasises that the sishya must ask questions, but at the appropriate 
time-"Prasna kaala prateeksha:"

 

It is this spirit of inquiry, leading to remarkable revelations, that 
characterises our scripture. Nowhere are we given concepts and asked to believe 
in them axiomatically-questions are raised and logical answers furnished, which 
strengthen our faith in the system and its tenets.

 

If you think that only Ramayana has a question and answer theme, you would be 
mistaken. Even Sri Mahabharatam has several episodes of queries being put and 
answers elicited, during which process several subtle points of Dharma emerge. 
There are at least three of these sessions in which Yudhishttira figures. Twice 
questions are asked of him and once he asks the questions.

 

Sri Mahabharatam narrates two occasions, where questions and answers thereto 
played a crucial role in saving lives. Whether the person concerned would live 
or die depended on the answers to the queries.

 

A huge python encircles Bhima, rendering even the mighty warrior incapable of 
extricating himself. Dharmaputra arrives on the scene, to be told by the 
serpent that unless he answered its questions truthfully and correctly, Bhima 
would certainly be swallowed. With his fund of wisdom acquired from venerated 
sages, Yudhishttira is able to reply to the python's queries satisfactorily and 
thereby save Bhima.  

 

On the second occasion, when all his brothers had been rendered unconscious for 
defying a "Yaksha", from whose pond they were trying to drink water, it is 
Dharmaputra again who comes to their rescue, by furnishing enlightening and 
informative replies to a series of questions posed by the Yaksha, which are 
collectively known as the Yaksha Prasnam.

 

However, the best set of questions for which Yudhishttira is remembered, is of 
course that in the Aanusaasinaka Parva of Sri Mahabharata. A perusal of the 
Epic would reveal an endearing trait on the part of Dharmaputra-whenever the 
occasion arises, whenever a sage or Maharshi is chanced upon, the scion of the 
Pandava clan exhibits an insatiable thirst for wisdom and plies the venerated 
visitor with pointed questions. Thus the eldest Pandava is a role model for all 
seekers, intent on acquiring wisdom and availing all opportunities therefor.

 

Coming back to Yudhishttira's questions, these are addressed to the venerated 
Bheeshma, who lies on a bed of arrows, awaiting the arrival of Uttaraayanam for 
shedding his mortal coils. Six pointed questions are asked by Dharmaputra, who 
is always focussed on ways and means for emancipation. If we look at these 
questions closely, we find that they cover the entire gamut of all that is to 
be learnt by a spiritual seeker, expecting as an answer no less than the Five 
Fundamentals of spiritual wisdom, collectively known as "Arttha Panchakam". It 
is in reply to these six glorious questions that the entire Vishnu Sahasranama 
Stotram unfolds, recounted with relish by the scholarly son of Saantanu. 

 

"Who is the only Deity in this world? Which is the sole and supreme goal? Whom 
should men adulate and adore to attain all that is good? Which Dharma is held 
by you to be supreme amongst all? By reciting what does a person rid himself of 
the shackles of Samsara?"

 

("Kim ekam daivatam loke, kim vaapi ekam paraayanam

   Stuvanta: kam, kam archanta: praapnuyu: maanava: subham

   Ko dharma: sarva dharmaanaam bhavata: paramo mata:

   Kim japan muchyate jantu: janma samsaara bandhanaat")

 

These questions afford an opportunity for Sri Bhishma for singing the praises 
of the Ultimate and result in the unravelling of the renowned Sri Vishnu 
Sahasranama Stotram, which is held to be the highpoint of the entire 
Mahabharatam, apart from the Bhagavat Gita. Besides being a comprehensive 
compendium of the Lord's haloed names, the Sahasranama Stotram has the 
distinction of enunciating rare philosophical truths, which a perusal of Sri 
Parasara Bhattar's commentary would reveal. One must indeed appreciate 
Dharmaputra for having known exactly what questions to ask, so as to elicit for 
posterity a rare treasure like Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam. We often hear the 
phrase "Million Dollar Question"-if ever there was a case of each question 
being worth its weight in gold or diamonds, the six glorious questions of 
Yudhishttira easily qualify for the top slot without competition.  

 

Many public speakers or even teachers often dread the question-and-answer 
sessions that usually form the concluding part of the programme. 

It is easy to engage in a monologue, but unless you have a command of the 
subject, it is infinitely more difficult to face pointed questions. 

 

As a so-called specialist in Foreign Exchange, I used to be a Guest Faculty at 
our Bank's staff training college. At the end of a session during which I found 
the participants unusually docile and attentive, when I asked, "Any 
questions?", a forest of hands went up. I was heartened at the response and 
mentally congratulated myself on having mesmerised the audience with my 
oratorical skills. All prepared to enlighten the trainees about the intricacies 
of Foreign Exchange, I asked the gentleman in the front row to state his doubt. 
His query was simple, straight-forward, apparently representative of the entire 
class and also spoke volumes about the "attentive" audience-"Sir, when will 
this session end?"

 

Srimate Sri LakshmiNrisimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana 
Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

dasan, sadagopan


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





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