Parables of Rama
by Swami Rama Tirtha | 102,836 words
Stories in English used by Swami Rama to illustrate the highest teaching of Vedanta. The most difficult and intricate problems of philosophy and abstract truths, which may very well tax the brains of the most intellectual, are thus made not only simple and easy to understand but also brought home to us in a concrete form in such an interesting and ...
Story 251 - The delusion of Duryodhana
After the end of Rajsuya Yajna (The Royal Festival of charity) and the farewell of all the other guests, Pandavas affectionately detained Duryodhana for some time more at Indraprasth and entertained him lavishly. One day, they showed him their beautiful palace, designed and constructed by skilful and experienced engineers. At a place the mosaic floor was so beautifully made out of precious and transparent quartz that it looked like running water. Duryodhana was, therefore, deluded by this deceptive flooring. He began undressing himself to cross it by swimming. Seeing this, Bhima, Draupadi and others laughed heartily.
So, too, dear readers! This world is made of Maya, the illusion. It looks different from what it actually is. It has been very beautifully decorated, so as to appear charming and attractive. There are also mirage-like circumstances which bewilder you. You think that you are drowned and start raising hue and cry, due to extreme nervousness. But when your ignorance is gone, you find yourself absolutely safe, as if nothing had happened.
My dear! Do not forget that all the things in this world are for your own good, though they may appear to you to be harmful, damaging or unnerving. Why should you be afraid of them? It is your own ignorance which is deluding you; otherwise there is none to harm you.