Adamya Sahas Ki Kathayen (Stories of indomitable spirit):

                                   Chanakya's Quest for Knowledge.

Chanakya was from a very poor family but he had a strong desire for learning. After finishing his basic education he decided to study further in Takshshila. Having no money or resources, he walked hundreds of miles to reach Takshshila earning food by manual labour and often living on wild fruits.

Though he reached the university somehow, he had no means to pay for fees, food, accommodation, books, clothes etc. He took up odd jobs and served others for survival. He would serve guru-mothers by bringing firewood from forests, fetching water from wells, and purchasing items for them from markets. He would carry books of the gurus to university and massage their tired bodies.

Initially the gurus and guru-mothers thought he was some ordinary student of the school and never paid him much attention. But when his level of devotion became very high, they began to wonder when would the boy be studying his lessons. Finally one day, a senior acharya (professor) asked him, "Dear boy, you spend so much time in our service, how do you get time to study?"

Tears rolled down the cheeks of Chanakya and he replied, "Sir, I am not a student here. I walked down from Magadh to study. Since I have no means of living, I have made serving gurus here as my sadhana. My stomach gets filled by whatever guru-mothers feed me, but the yearnings of my soul only gurus can ....". He could not continue, his throat was choked.

Acharya's heart was filled with compassion. He embraced him and said, " Dear boy, even the Almighty cannot deny you what you so earnestly desire. One who is so devoted to service, who has so much determination to achieve his goal, for such no obstacle can come in way, no resource is inaccessible. From today you are my son. You shall stay at my home and study all you wish."

Chanakya studied for next fourteen years at Takshshila and became an authority on diverse subjects like Vedic knowledge, economics, sociology, weapons and war games etc. Chanakya left for Magadh at the age of 26.

On return he established the famous institute at Nalanda at Pataliputra which is still regarded in high esteem. Education was free at this institute. Despite his high status, Chanakya led a very simple, ascetic life throughout.

Upakhyan (Anecdote):

Happiness is a divine attribute. It is the best medicine for enhancing physical health and mental enthusiasm. Here is an interesting episode.

Saint Tukaram's wife had bad temper. Once she sent Tukaram to purchase sugarcane. He picked a few in the market and headed back home. On the way he came across several children. These children longed for sugarcane and asked him for some. He was a simpleton and whole heartedly distributed them away. Finally he returned home with just one cane.

When his wife saw the last cane he brought, she got terribly angry. She picked up the cane and hit Tukaram hard on his back with it. The cane broke off into two pieces. Tukaram coolly picked up the two pieces and laughingly said, "Here, take this piece, I will eat the other!"

His wife was put to shame seeing his tolerance and love, and her bitterness for him was dissolved forever.

SADVICHAR (Thought of the week):

Think everyday as a new life and use it wisely.

SAMPARK (Contacts):
Yug Shakti Gayatri Kendra

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Phone: 91-80-23526694
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Gatividhiyan (Activities):

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