YAKSHA PRASHNA (The Questions of the Yaksha) Who is the friend of a traveller? A companion Who is the friend of a householder? A spouse Who is the friend of the sick? A doctor Who is the friend of the dying? His charity Commentary i) A travellers best friend is the companion traveller. ii) A householders true friend is his wife. A Hindu man takes a woman by the hand at the wedding ceremony and walks seven steps (sapta padi) with her around the fire as both pledge their eternal friendship to each other. He says: With these seven steps you have become my lifes companion. We are both friends. I shall never fail to be your friend. May you also never fail to be my friend . . . . This is the understanding, the promise, the commitment that binds a Hindu couple. iii) For a sick person the most desirable friend is a doctor. iv) For the dying person the charity done during a lifetime serves as a friend by providing a sense of fulfillment and preparation for the life to come. Summary This group of questions stresses the need for and the role of friends and the need to be involved with others in a mutual, healthy, giving and receiving of support. The first three friendships referred to in this stanza are with other persons but the last category, the friend at the end of ones life, is ones own lifetime of giving. Courtesy: periplusbooks
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 15:11:48 +0000
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