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Qn. 2
It is important to note that the four endings of a man play a critical role in shaping the day-to-day life of a man because it carries all the ingredients which contribute to their success or failure. Focusing on these four ends prompts the surroundings to motivate the man as he desires to achieve more and more in everything he does and it is common in all that he never gives up. Basically, the four ends must be achieved and where it is not easy to do so, employ strategies which will contribute towards the well-being of their health, status, religion, and social life. It is basic knowledge that an individual is brought up and they have to conform to the social life as they learn their responsibilities slowly by slowly.
To begin with, the first of the four ends known as dharma is all about being righteous and having good morals as well as ethical practices which abide by the scriptures. This is the first step towards developing and building a relationship within the environment one lives in citing what Draupati was referring to his abilities as being supreme when guided by God and therefore, he cannot shy away from religion. What is more important to this is that the social lifestyle of people start dictating whom they relate to as they grow up and one will find that those who are in power have a more influential power than those who are considered as common citizens. It is also one’s duty to ensure that the decisions made are best defined by religion through practicing beliefs and having morals that are positive in the social setting.
Individuals also have a very strong view that they have to uplift their standards within the social setting by having trading partnerships where they use this as a platform to improve their social well-being. This is done through the coming together of different families as well as communities around India who converge at central locations to present their goods and services which build the marketplace into a better and respected place. What is more to this is the fact that as people start to know each other, friendship develops and they start trusting each other which increases the chances of there being a more inclusive status that recognizes everyone in the community. Again, it must be known that people learn to outshine others and in so doing, there is competition, however, it makes the environment health as each and every member across India is envisioned with the idea of making the best out of what they have.
Secondly, the other end is wealth and this is basically the number one priority of every individual Indian with the ability of having a better life since wealth itself is a necessity. In order to keep a household and maintain it, it is the responsibility of the man to earn wealth that is enough so that he will have an easy time raising his family and in so doing make it better for everyone. Citing the material, we have the King who is very rich and he can send for anything and it will be brought to his, however, it is not because he is in power, but how he has earned his wealth throughout the entire time he has been growing. He is able to build a house that can accommodate his family, friends, relatives, guests, and anyone who comes by because he has the ability to do all that.
That is where the social setting comes in, everyone else is set to benefit from the wealth of the King since he is the ruler of the land and anyone can visit his house. It is a way of making sure that those who live within our society and are less fortunate, handicapped, or poor since people have learnt to give back to the society where they can. This is through them having to go through a cycle of life into earning a decent life and it is the best way of making friends as well as ensuring that everyone is catered for. Citing what Yudhistira did, we can conclude that he had a heart of compassion for those who were not able to achieve and earn wealth in the society. This is from the excerpt, “After crossing over to the other bank of Ganga, they trudged along for many days and reached a forest known as Dwaitavana, where dwelt many hermits, living a life of contemplation amidst nature. The Pandavas could forget their trials momentarily in such enlightened company. With the copper bowl in Draupadi’s hands, Yudhistira could provide the hermits as well as his followers with limitless food.”
The third end of a man is referred to as Kama, where our bodies as well as minds have their own desires, passions, emotions, as well as what drives them. An example of this would be at the King’s house when all parties present have gathered so that they can start gambling, one party has the desire of winning, but if they have to lose, it has to be through fair and square means. This prompts a big deal about the gambling as Duryodhana, Sakuni, and Karna do not live to the end of their promise as they use other means so as to win the gamble which Yudhistira is not happy with and makes him live with anger. All through this whole time, everyone had their own desires and one party made sure that they achieve it while the other felt that they were being taken advantage of and therefore, decided to oust themselves from the game.
This is an implication that Duryodhana, Sakuni, and Kama have no control over their desires as they are not genuine at all and all in all, it costs their friendship with Yudhistra and his party. This is something which is very severe as the inability to have a controlled environment for ones desires, they cannot be easily satisfied and through this process, there is a lot of dissatisfaction throughout the whole time people are together. The reason as to why Yudhistra decides to take no more of what Duryodhana and his company are presenting is because they last time they were together, the same thing happened. The want to win so badly and therefore, they must use other means to achieve what they want, which cannot be tolerated this time.
Lastly, the fourth end of man is Moksha where individuals have to live a life that spans through the cycle starting from birth to death. There are a lot of things which happen in between and they are meant to improve, build, and instill several senses into the human mind so that they can become better and respected people in the society. This involves being raised by parents who are caring and supportive so that they can provide one with the necessities of life and later own help them attract happiness in life. In so doing, there is the good and the bad that comes with life where some individuals neglect the advice they are given after they have growth and gained their status in the society. For instance, the King hates any words of advice that are directed towards him and he detests them just like the sick man detests medicine that is given to him.
Apart from an individual making their life better through the cycle of birth and death, they have to become better people and as a person, his life can be in harmony throughout the world while they seek God for intervention. This is the best explanation of maintaining a life which is more sufficient and encouraging because anything that happens in life has a reason and due to religious beliefs, people learn to maintain a close relationship with their God. People start to learn the importance of having close friends who take good care of everything in that even when there is something bad which has happened, they will make sure that they are present to comfort the said individuals. One thing that is learn is how to accommodate the behavior of individuals who are irritating or could suggest not to know any manners for example those who take other peoples’ things under their nose. This is where forgiveness, compromise, as well as tolerance has to be taken into consideration, however, when people realize that an individual can forgive, they see that as their weakness.
That is never the case because forgiveness is God and unless individuals learn to be true to themselves, they can never prosper in life. They always hold a lot of guilt inside them which mostly makes them bitter and not like anything good that they see since most of their views or suggestions are always negative or without any influential point. Basically, these are individuals who have failed to keep their faith and let God guide them through their daily life and that is why they sometimes always have the desire of causing trouble so that a situation of worrying can exists.
Qn. 3
The Mahabharata and Ramayana, both consecrated Hindu writings, filled in as India's fundamental propelling base for a lot of scholarly, aesthetic and melodic manifestations in consequent centuries. The Epic Period was a brilliant time in Indian philosophical idea in view of the resistance of various conclusions and lessons. The most prevalent type of Indian solution, Ayurveda, was created by Vedic holy people and Jyotish, Hindu soothsaying, is the most famous type of crystal gazing in India today. Yoga, a universally well-known arrangement of reflection, is one of six frameworks of Hindu idea. Other than Hinduism, other primary religions amid old India were Buddhism, and Jainism. Buddhism started in northern India in what is today the territory of Bihar. It quickly picked up followers amid the Buddha's lifetime. Up to the ninth century, Indian supporters numbered in the many millions. Buddhism, referred to in old India as Buddha Dharma, began in northern India in what is today the province of Bihar. It quickly picked up disciples amid the Buddha's lifetime. Up to the ninth century, Indian supporters numbered in the several millions.
The conventional Vedic religion was a shared one, all around adjusted to little scale tribal social orders however less so to the bigger, more perplexing ones that were developing in old India at this time of history. A developing number of dealers, authorities and other urban-base individuals started searching for a more individual religious experience, one which would address their individual requirement for salvation. In addition, by the sixth century BCE the old religion had moved toward becoming described by a high level of formal. This gave a prevailing spot to the ministers of the Brahmin position, and some driving individuals from the developing society were awkward and wanted to challenge the Brahmins' imposing business model over profound issues.
There additionally created numerous heterodox religious groups in antiquated India. One such group was Ajivika, established by Mahavira's opponent Goshala Maskariputra. Ajivikas did not put stock in karma and believed that the fate was foreordained and couldn't be changed. There were additionally a few different religious counterparts to Buddha and Mahavira amid the sixth century B.C. Another minister of a similar period was Pakuda Katyayana, who additionally showed that the spirit was better than great and fiendishness, therefore unaltered or untouched by it. He arranged everything into seven classifications, i.e. earth, water, fire, air, joy, agony and soul, which were interminable. Ajita Kesakambalin, another contemporary of Buddha educated finish realism. He didn't have confidence in life following death and considered passing as the last period of all souls.
The Aryan conviction framework spun around a pantheon of divine beings and goddesses. It likewise came to incorporate the idea of the "Cycle of Life" – resurrection of the spirit from one animal – counting the two creatures and people – to another. Afterward, the possibility of the material world being a figment ended up plainly broad. Such thoughts were underscored all the more unequivocally in the new lessons of Jainism and Buddhism, which both likewise had their starting points in antiquated India. Mahariva established Jainism early, even before the 1st century. He stressed a perspective officially introduce in early Hinduism, peacefulness to every single living thing. He additionally advanced the renunciation of common wants and a parsimonious lifestyle.
These strains had a significantly imaginative effect on the religious existence of old India by delivering two new religions, Jainism and Buddhism. Jainism was established by Mahariva. He accentuated a perspective effectively exhibit in early Hinduism, peacefulness to every single living thing. The Jains likewise advanced the renunciation of common wants and a plain lifestyle, in some cases to the point of self-torment. Buddhism was established by Gautama Siddharta, the Buddha. He came to trust that outrageous religious austerity was not a productive reason for an otherworldly life. In any case, as Jains, Buddhists trusted that the discharge from common wants was the best approach to salvation. In day by day life, Buddhists accentuated the significance of moral conduct.
The Vedas, the Mahabharata and the Upanishads framed the foundational works of the Hindu religion, which was steadily coming to fruition in the Vedic Age. They demonstrate that the old Vedic religion was advancing into something else. This was likely to a vast degree the aftereffect of impacts from the more seasoned Dravidian populaces over whom the Aryans ruled. Over the span of hundreds of years the Aryan nature gods lost quite a bit of their significance, and three new divine beings had their spot: Vishnu, the preserver; Shiva, the destroyer; and Brahma, the maker. The thoughts related with the Upanishads ended up plainly vital, and these profoundly affected social life. The idea that each component of creation – people, creatures, plants, shakes et cetera – had a part of the World Soul staying in them picked up acknowledgment inside antiquated Indian culture. With it came a regard for every single living thing.
References
Narayan, R., K. (2013). The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic