Canto 1 Chapter 14 Flashcards
- List some of the inauspicious omens noticed by Yudhiñöhira Mahäräja (2-5, 11-20)
-Direction of time have changes and caused seasonal irregularities
-People in general had become very greedy, angry, deceitful and has adopted foul means of livelihood
-Ordinary transactions and dealings have become polluted with cheating
-Misunderstanding and quarrels between families.
-how the she-jackal cries at the rising sun and vomits fire, and how the dog barks at Yudhisthir Maharaj fearlessly.
-animals like cows are passing me on my left side, and lower animals like the asses are circumambulating me
- smoke encircles the sky
-The wind blows violently, blasting dust everywhere and creating darkness. Clouds are raining everywhere with bloody disasters.
-The rays of the sun are declining, and the stars appear to be fighting amongst themselves
-The calves do not suck the teats of the cows, nor do the cows give milk. They are standing, crying, tears in their eyes, and the bulls take no pleasure in the pasturing grounds
- Why was Arjuna sent to Dvärakä? (6-8)
I sent Arjuna to Dvārakā to meet his friends and to learn from the Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, of His program of work. As Narada Rishi indicated that Krsna will be wrapping up His earthly pastimes.
- How does Çréla Prabhupäda show that success requires the Lord’s sanction? (9)
If one could achieve success without the sanction of the Lord then no medical practitioner would fail to cure a patient. Despite the most advanced treatment of a suffering patient by the most up-to-date medical practitioner, there is death, and even in the most hopeless case, without medical treatment, a patient is cured astonishingly. Therefore the conclusion is that God’s sanction is the immediate cause for all happenings, good or bad. Any successful man should feel grateful to the Lord for all he has achieved.
- When the left side of one’s body quivers constantly, what does this indicate? (11)
When a man’s left eye, arm and thigh all quiver constantly, one must know that something is going to happen which is undesirable.
- Why is Balaräma mentioned as “the protector of the devotees”? (29)
Baladeva acts as the spiritual master of all devotees, and by His causeless mercy the fallen souls are delivered. Śrī Baladeva appeared as Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu during the advent of Lord Caitanya, and the great Lord Nityānanda Prabhu exhibited His causeless mercy by delivering a pair of extremely fallen souls, namely Jagāi and Mādhāi. Therefore it is particularly mentioned herein that Balarāma is the protector of the devotees of the Lord.
- How many family members did Lord Kåñëa have in Dvärakä? (31)
1,610,800 family members
- What two necessities are required for a society to prosper? (34)
Cow protection and cultivation of the brahminical qualities in human society
- Why didn’t Yudhiñöhira Mahäräja inquire about Lord Kåñëa’s welfare? (34)
Since the Lord is all-perfect in Himself, there could not be any question of His welfare
- What general principles can be drawn from the Yadus’ assembly house in Dvärakä?
(38)
- List some of Yudhiñöhira’s suggested reasons for Arjuna’s dejection (40-43)
-Has someone addressed you with unfriendly words or threatened you, or has not been able to give charity to someone who has asked.
- you maybe couldn’t give protection to brāhmaṇas, children, cows, women and the diseased.
-Have you contacted a woman of impeachable character, or have you not properly treated a deserving woman
-Have you been defeated by someone inferior to you.
-have you not taken care of old men and boys who deserve to dine with you? Have you left them and taken your meals alone? Have you committed some unpardonable mistake which is considered to be abominable?
- Which citizens specifically require the protection of the state? (41)
brāhmaṇas, children, cows, women and the diseased
- What is uttama and adhama? (42)
Contact of a brāhmaṇa with a kṣatriya woman is uttama, but the contact of a kṣatriya with a brāhmaṇa woman is adhama and therefore condemned. A woman approaching a man for contact should never be refused, but at the same time the discretion as above mentioned may also be considered.
- Explain why Bhéñmadeva’s defeating him was not an insult for Arjuna (42)
This was not an insult for Arjuna because Bhīṣmadeva was far superior to Arjuna in all ways, namely age, respect and strength
- The neglect of what prescribed duty of a householder is unpardonable? (43)
It is the duty of a householder to feed first of all the children, the old members of the family, the brāhmaṇas and the invalids.
