The 9-Year-Old Who Decodes The Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharata's Biggest Secrets | Paridhi | Gayathri

The 9-Year-Old Who Decodes The Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharata's Biggest Secrets | Paridhi | Gayathri

Author Name:Holistic Therapist Gayathri

Youtube Channel Url:https://www.youtube.com/@holistictherapistgayathri

Youtube Video URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvH89Mg0EOA



Transcript:
(00:00) My father told me that because of you multiple people are starting to learn more about our Indian history. >> We have Paridhi. My when I was 9 years old, it was a completely different life and you guys have a completely different life. What kind of conversations do you have with your friends right now? >> My friends and I only discuss one thing.
(00:31) How do I complete my incomplete work in school? One of the worst things about Duryodhana is that he's just downright greedy. That mere childish behavior killed 4.7 lakh people. >> What's the difference between karma and dharma? >> Karma is action. It is tit for tat. While dharma is righteousness. It's justice.
(01:03) >> You know the worst thing that happened to India was burning down from Nalanda University. >> The massive library had 9 million plus manuscripts was set on fire. And the fire kept on burning for months. >> The Mudalier twins. >> The Mudalier twins are the reason why we have Lakshadweep with us today. >> The Pakistani ship was going there.
(01:42) >> Come on. Go. Go. >> If it hadn't been for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and for those twins, then Lakshadweep would have been Pakistani territory right now. Because be it whatever religion, every religion just teaches you one thing, be a good human being. >> For somebody like me, uh I have known bits and pieces of
(02:26) Mahabharata, but I don't know the entire essence of it. If you had to narrate, I'm sure there's so many people who will be watching this may not understand Mahabharata to the fullest extreme. So, if you had to narrate Mahabharata as a story for us, how do you narrate that? >> Firstly, I would say ki Mahabharata, uh I can't narrate it over here.
(02:52) If I would, then this podcast wouldn't end until uh this night or something. But, um a few things I would say to get good, authentic, and original Mahabharatas are >> Mhm. >> get Ami Ganatra's Mahabharata. >> Mhm. >> Uh that is amazing because it tells the story also, and it breaks the myths also. >> Yeah. >> Like for example, Draupadi never said Andhe ka Putra Andha.
(03:18) Draupadi, for another thing is that um in the serials we watch, mhm the serials Dekh Dekh Ke we get interested in Mahabharata like I did. So, uh a few things that are just masala added in and are not true at all, completely false, are Draupadi never said Andhe ka Putra Andha. Vastraharan ke baad Draupadi ne baal bandha tha, it was not left open.
(03:49) And thirdly, Abhimanyu never learned to enter the Chakraview inside the womb. >> Mhm. >> Fourthly, Karna is not a hero or a victim. >> Mhm. >> So, these four myths are so common now that you get confused. >> Okay. >> And uh another book I I can tell you is key ISKCON Mahabharat. >> Mhm. >> That is already an authentic presentation.
(04:17) Other than that, don't ever trust serials. Um then uh a few more myths I can tell you. >> Yeah. >> Shakuni was never limping. Shakuni's father was thrown in prison. His father, sons, and brother were thrown into prison is completely false. >> Mhm. >> Uh and Amigana through made this a very funny thing key Agar woh prison jail mein mare the to fir kya bhoot banke lade the kya Mahabharat mein? >> Mhm.
(04:49) >> So, um that is one more thing. And so, yeah. >> Okay. So, now I do understand the entire story of Mahabharata is a longer version of it. But, if you talk about what happened in Kurukshetra and the most important uh not the milestones, but the most important moments that happened during the war that would give a lot of people reference of how to lead life right now, what all instances would you talk about? >> Firstly, okay, I'll go to post-war entirely.
(05:24) So, post the war, Bhishma uh Bhishma is not dead. He's just Matlab, he's hanging in limbo, let's just say. And so, Bhishma Pitamaha gives advice to Yudhishthira before passing away. That is one of the most important parts. Then I think we can all agree that Bhagavad Gita is very important, too. Then another thing we can learn is the entire war may Another pointer made by Amiga Natra that uh people say Krishna wasn't fair in the
(06:11) war. She said that Krishna wasn't unfair. I got those three sides. He was just His point was if you are not following the rules, then why should we? >> Mhm. >> You expect us to follow the rules while demolishing them yourself. So that is one more amazing pointer made by Amigi. And then the killing of Abhimanyu tells us that you didn't maybe rules of Mahabharat war may Kauravas will find one way or another to break them.
(06:52) >> Mhm. >> And then and then the most shocking part is after Abhimanyu was killed, one of Abhimanyu Arjun's disciples, I think, Satyaki killed Bhurishrava, a Kaurava warrior, when he was unarmed. And so Duryodhana tells Krishna, Krishna, look, you say I'm God, but you're being so unfair. And the worst part is just few days ago, you killed uh you killed Abhimanyu six to one, and you're saying that it's unfair if Bhurishrava was killed unarmed.
(07:34) >> Mhm. >> So yeah. >> So this is post-war. >> Mhm. >> So during the war from the conversation between Arjun and Krishna, What do you think are the most important lessons that can still be used in our life right now? >> Uh first pointer before I answer would is that there is no part in the Mahabharat that is important or unimportant.
(08:02) Every word, every syllable in the Bhagavad Gita is important >> Okay. >> to learn. But uh since I am a student I have a shloka for all the students out there. And that is Meaning that approach a wise teacher with humility and a desire to serve. And they will teach you true knowledge. I will explain this. Firstly, approach a teacher with uh
(08:45) uh humility and a desire to serve. By desire to serve, I don't mean you have to uh desire to go to their home and do jhadoo pocha for them. By that, I mean to help them. To listen to them. And if they're repeating something, you shouldn't be like, "Hey, yeah, I already he we heard this before. Go get to the main point." No.
(09:11) You have to listen to it no matter how many times they've repeated it. And then humility is don't be arrogant. Like, "I already know this. Get to the main point. No, no, no, no, I already know this. You should teach this." No. You have to be humble and you have to learn every single word, every single syllable, every single sound that they make.
(09:36) Then they will teach you true knowledge. No teacher wants to teach you false knowledge for the first thing. Secondly, by that I mean they will have the intention to teach you. K if you're arrogant and you're not ready to learn, then could it be you need to take a look at They're here They're here to learn or I want to teach them.
(10:03) They will not have that feeling from their heart. And the best thing to create a good relationship between teacher and student is to listen and to be ready to learn and to have that intention for learning. >> And in Mahabharata, what are your favorite characters? >> Uh one is obviously Krishna. Another is Dhananjaya, which is another name for Arjun.
(10:30) >> Okay. >> And another is uh actually one thing I don't think Krishna is I don't think Lord Narayan's eighth avatar is pronounced as Krishna. I think it's pronounced as Krishna. >> Krishna, okay. >> Because another name for Draupadi is Krishna. That's why. >> Okay. >> So there are three three to four mentioned Krishnas in the story.
(10:59) Krishna, Sri Krishna, Dhananjaya, Krishna, Draupadi Krishna, and Rishi Krishi Rishi Krishna Dwaipayan Dwaipayan the Vyasa. >> Mhm, okay. Why are these two characters your favorite characters? >> So basically Draupadi, like many people say K Draupadi was a violent woman. She was the cause of all the deaths of the Mahabharat.
(11:29) No, that's That's not true. Draupadi was actually a wise philosophical woman. Like uh like I mentioned earlier, she never said Andh ka Putra Andha. There is no There is no written record in the Mahabharata whatsoever that Draupadi ever said Andh ka Putra Andh ka Putra Andha. Yes, Bhiman laughed at Duryodhana, but Draupadi never did anything.
(11:58) So, yeah. >> Mhm. Okay. So, are there any misunderstood characters? >> Yes. One of them is Draupadi herself. Another is Karna. >> Okay. What about Karna is misunderstood? >> See. Okay, before I answer that, I'll ask you a question. >> I'm very poor in this, so yes. >> What is the description you have learned in about Karna? Like, what do you think of him? Was he heroic? Was he cowardly? What? >> I feel he The description given about him was he's a very kind person, very giving person.
(12:36) >> Yes, he was a very generous person, but the Karna I'm looking at Even I recently found out and I was very shocked, but still Karna, how we read him is he was a great man, misunderstood. No. No. No. He actually was a very boastful and wild person. He constantly said Arjun is not even 1/16 part of me. He constantly told uh the Duryodhana that look at Bhishma and Drona, you pampered them.
(13:15) They're just giving you wicked advice in return. Whenever Bhishma and Dronacharya asked asked Duryodhana to return Indraprastha. Uh and Duryo- uh Karna is the one who always used to incite Duryodhana to do everything. >> Mhm. >> He was the one Joe I'll get out of here. >> Mhm. >> He literally >> Mhm. >> And my question to Karna would be today, if you are so strong, where were you during the Gandharva war? >> Mhm.
(13:52) >> Why did you run away? Yeah. >> Okay. So, you also spoke about the Yugas a little bit a little while ago, right? So, what has Krishna majorly spoken about the Kali Yuga? >> Kali Yuga he said he Kali Yuga I'll explain this with the birth of Dharma. >> Okay. >> So, Dharma was born as a buffalo. And Dharma had four legs.
(14:22) Back in Satya Yuga, not now. And the the Brahma told Dharma he Dharma in Satya Yuga you will have four legs. Then in Treta Yuga you will have three legs. Because they will cut off one of the practices. In Dwapar Yuga you will have two legs, they'll cut off another practice. And in Kali Yuga you will have only one leg. >> Mhm.
(14:49) >> And basically other than that, what all is mentioned about Kali Yuga is he Kali Yuga will be the most disturbed Yuga out of the all. Because Kali Yuga make out that he this is mentioned in the Ramayana. That only Brahmins can do a can do a pooja and they chant the Vedas and all. In Satya Yuga then Kshatriyas can do it in Treta Yuga uh Vaishyas in Dwapar Yuga and Shudras can do it in the Kali Yuga.
(15:34) And other than that Kali is a demon. Okay. Okay, one of the most biggest misunderstandings about this uh present Yuga is the demon of this Yuga. Kali but to it's not Mahakali, it's Kali. Uh uh I was watching videos on my TV when I came across this one video that was Googling up. I would not recommend that to anybody, but that they were Googling up who is the demon for Kali Yuga.
(16:08) So, I got interested, so I just put aside the remote and I started to watch. And then so they firstly Googled up the uh thing searched and then the highlighted word came Kali. I'm like, "Huh." For they give a series of images. And you know what was in that image? Mahakali. >> Okay. >> And I'm like, "That's not at all correct.
(16:34) " Because a Mahakali is a Devi, she's she uh she's a protector. Kali on the other hand will just disrupt you. >> But why do we have to go through so many Yugas? Is there any uh meaning to it? No. >> No idea. >> It's just the way it is. >> It's uh I've read it that way. >> Okay. Okay, got it. So, again, now from the teachings that happened during the war are there any life lessons that are applicable for us even now? Because now a lot of people are going through depression, a lot of people are going through suffering.
(17:09) Has Krishna ever spoken about how to get rid of the suffering? >> See there's one mantra. I don't know if it will work for everybody else, but it worked for me whenever I get scared. I recently discovered this, too. It's Ugram Viram Maha Vishnum Jwalantam Sarvatomukham Narasimham Bhishanam Bhadram Mrityor Mrityum Namamyaham And this is basically a mantra to remove all fear and anxiety.
(17:43) And one way to not be fearful of the God is to recognize him as your protector. Because even when Narasimha Dev came and even when he killed Hiranyakashipu, Hiranyakashipu was scared out of his wits. But Prahlada, he said, "Oh Lord, I'm not scared of you. Oh Lord, I'm not scared of you because I know you are my protector.
(18:08) And you will protect me." Then as of depression, it is one small don't be attached. There's a difference between love and attachment. When you love, you know ki ha ye temporary hai. But when you're attached, you're not ready to let go of that thing at all. >> Do you think a lot of people are attached these days? >> I'm not sure, but >> Looks like it.
(18:35) >> Yes. >> Okay. And there is this one very beautiful saying of Krishna where where he says, "Do your work, don't expect for the fruits." I mean, when you do your work with 100% authenticity and put in all your efforts, everything is going to get taken care of. So, in what essence did he actually mean that? >> He meant ki most people today, uh the first thoughts that come to their mind when they get some work to do is "What will be the fruits? What will I get?" Let's do this with an example.
(19:14) >> Mhm. >> You know I shouldn't turn this mug full of water upside down. >> Mhm. >> Because you know ki usme se pani girega. But when you're unsure about something, you start to think ki what would be my fruit? What will I get? And then dhire dhire karke it becomes I should also get something. >> Mhm. >> Maybe I should do something to get myself something.
(19:45) And dhire dhire karke you have lost all sincerity to do that work. And some people, and this is happening very commonly nowadays, their first thought in their their brain is that ki what um what will I get in return? >> Mhm. >> Okay, okay, I'll do it, but what what will I get in return? >> Mhm. >> They'll never ask, "Okay, how do I do this? Where uh where do I get the things to do this?" No, their first question will be what do I get in return? So, yeah.
(20:22) >> Why is it wrong or what does it do to people especially when they think about the outcome rather than thinking about the process? >> Because then you lose all sincerity to do that work. And then uh this is what I had experienced. Then you start to procrastinate. >> Mhm. >> And you start to think ki oh, I I probably should not do this because it's so boring for me.
(20:48) It's not so interesting. And you lose all patience for that. >> Mhm. >> And later onwards you realize that was a very bad idea. So, yeah. >> And also Krishna talks about surrender, right? Surrender wholeheartedly and surrender 100%. So, talk to us about surrendering. What is it you've learned? >> See, I'll share another very famous story.
(21:17) And that is we all know the Draupadi Haran. At the time she was dragged out in the she begged her the Pandavas. She begged the Kauravas even. She begged everyone in sight to come and help her. Nobody did. At last she raised her hands and she was like, "Sham, I need you. You're my only solace." At that time, Krishna gave him the robe.
(21:47) One by one by one by one, there was a pile of robes. Mhm. Later onwards, Draupadi asked Krishna. And probably many people also have this question in their mind, "Key, Lord, why didn't you come to save me when Dushasana came to take me out?" So, Krishna says, "Key, I didn't come to take you take him out.
(22:15) Uh when he came to take you out, I didn't come to help you because you never surrendered to me. You never called on me. You never asked me for help." And he explained that, "My home isn't Vaikuntha. My home isn't Dwarka or Ayodhya. My home is your heart. If you like your my home be your heart, I will wholeheartedly help you. But if you kick me out of your heart, I'll not be ready to help you.
(22:48) " >> And do you think one of the reasons why people may not be able to feel God is because their hearts are closed? >> Yes. >> And what do you think contributes to somebody's heart getting closed? >> Uh I'll explain this with an example. >> Yes. >> That imagine in you in your home a kitchen nothing else.
(23:13) There's just one chair. And a guest comes. You offer them that chair. >> Yeah. >> Then another guest comes. Same chair. And then a third and then a fourth and then a fifth. Five people trying to sit on a chair. A kitchen there. So uh then how will the first guest feel? They will get up and leave obviously. So this home is your body.
(23:44) >> Mhm. >> And this chair is your heart. The first guest was Krishna. Krishna came and sat in your heart. But you allowed pride, anger, greed, lust to sit down. So Krishna felt uncomfortable and he left. And this is a beautiful example by Sri Gauranga Darshan Das Ji. Uh and so yeah, that's what I think. >> So for somebody who is now becoming aware that uh the chair has been occupied by a lot of other things like greed, jealousy, and all of that.
(24:23) What do you think they should start doing to send these out and get Krishna back? >> To get peace in your mind. Once you get peace, be it by any means, be it by chanting, dancing, yoga, coloring, whatever. If you get peace and you try to not think of what is in like um the moment you see someone who is something better than you your first thought would be oh, I want that too.
(24:57) Try to kick that thought out of your brain as soon as you can. And bring the thought key oh, I should congratulate them instead. Key oh or you should admire it instead. But don't let me be jealous. Whatever I do, don't let me be jealous, don't let me be angry. So, yeah. >> So, in Kids Bhagavad Gita, do you think they've kind of reduced the concepts and intensity so the children can understand? >> Uh basically what I read Kids Bhagavad Gita, it was good for kids.
(25:33) Like for the kids to get the base concept key kya hai Bhagavad Gita. But once that sinks in, I think they should uh be uh starting to read a little easy-to-read Bhagavad Gitas that are uh like my Bhagavad Gita, the one I have is Sanskrit Sanskrit same uh shloka written in English and then translated to English. >> Oh, okay. >> So, that kind of book I easily got the concept because I I was good at English and so I understood everything.
(26:09) But the uh then if they want more depth knowledge depth knowledge then after reading these kind of books, they should go for ISKCON Bhagavad Gita. >> Oh, ISKCON Bhagavad Gita is uh very deep? >> Uh my question is key agar this is not deep then tell me why are the Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita in the same amount of pages? >> Hm.
(26:36) >> So, that just makes me wonder key this is so deep uh that I thought at first that Bhagavad Gita would be this would be a bit easy for me to read since I read two Bhagavad Gitas. But actually I started with the first chapter, then I stopped. It was so deep for me because um And uh uh for your question was key are the the kids books not intense? Uh they're not the intense intense, but like the main base kya hai? Usme they they can understand.
(27:17) And then you ISKCON ka Bhagavad Gita. It gets so deep if you don't know anything about Bhagavad Gita, you'll be so confused. And even after reading the Bhagavad Gita, sometimes you're like, "Okay, I need to pause and I need to think on this for a minute." So, that that is what I think is the depth of Bhagavad Gita.
(27:42) >> So, every time when you said the ISKCON Bhagavad Gita was deep, can you give me a reference of what was the difference between the kids one and the ISKCON one that made you pause and go deeper into that? >> So, firstly, my kids Bhagavad Gita was basically not it was a mixture of both the Bhagavat and Bhagavad Gita.
(28:02) >> Mhm. >> The difference is Bhagavat is what Shri Krishna ne kiya and Bhagavad Gita is jo Shri Krishna ne bola. >> Mhm. >> So, they mixed it all together. His life story also, Bhagavad Gita also. >> Mhm. >> And then I started with the Bhagavad Gita thing. The one thing I think is thoda disappointing is that there were no Sanskrit shlokas in it.
(28:29) >> In the kids one? >> No, because if the shlokas start from the kids book itself, it gets way easier for them to read when they go ahead. >> Okay. >> Because it was already very easy for me with the English thing. And it became easier for I think it would be easier if they had the Sanskrit shloka and they modified it to be little English like the shloka in the English yeah Hindi me translated.
(29:02) As for the Bhagavad Gita of ISKCON, I don't know much because I barely have moved on after the first chapter but as far as I know there's a lot of difference. Uh and secondly it is also authentic. >> Okay. >> The ISKCON Bhagavad Gita so I personally think the kids if the kids are learning they should go from Kids Bhagavad Gita to Bhagavad Gita by Vedic Cosmos which is very good. I I read that one.
(29:39) >> Okay, Vedic Cosmos. >> And then ISKCON Bhagavad Gita. >> Okay. >> Last year. >> So you said there is a difference between Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavat. What Krishna did and what Krishna said. Can you help us understand the difference between both? >> So Bhagavat like Bhagavat in the book I have read it's called Shyam an illustrated retelling of the Bhagavat by an amazing author that is Devdutt Pattanaik.
(30:11) And so in the book Shri Vedavyasa Rishi had said ki Bhagavat is the story of Bhagavan. And then I said ki it's what Krishna did. So Bhagavat yani unka rasleela ho gaya the the defeat of Kaliya ho gaya Kurukshetra war ho gaya that all comes into Bhagavat. Mhm. Bhagavad Gita is uh Karma Yoga, the three different Gunas, the Bhakti Yoga, Nyana Yoga, all these come into Bhagavad Gita.
(30:53) And what I think is the major difference is that the Bhagavat is a bit more important than the Bhagavad Gita. >> Why? >> Because Bhagavad Gita is just Krishna telling all of his knowledge to Arjun. But I think other than the Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavat is important because Krishna's Krishna experienced everything in that.
(31:21) So we see everything human from a God's point of view. >> Okay. >> So I find find that interesting. >> Give me a few examples of what Krishna experienced, what humans experience, but had the God's perspective about it. >> So firstly, I think we know Pradyumna, >> Mhm. >> the son of Krishna. So it is said at the time of his birth, Pradyumna was thrown by a demon into the sea.
(31:50) >> Mhm. >> Now obviously, this is not a very good news. And many other sad things happened to Krishna like in the Kurukshetra, he lost many people, too. Because actually, Krishna's army was fighting against the Pandavas. The Kauravas may not have any say in that. And uh he lost he lost all of his siblings before he could see them.
(32:19) And all of that makes you wonder key how can he smile through all all of it? >> Mhm. >> And that is what I like to say is God's perspective. >> Mhm. >> Key Bhagavan dekha hai. This This has been happening for multiple Yugas already. And God is smiling because he knows it's temporary. >> And when you say it's temporary, I've also heard you say in the past that happiness and sadness, both of it is temporary.
(32:53) What kind of just makes me feel amazed is all grown-ups like us, we find it very difficult to understand that. We know it intellectually, but for us to understand that it takes time. How did you, at the age of nine just get the essence of happiness and sadness, both of it is temporary? >> So, I'll use um a story.
(33:18) See. So, once Narada Muni was talking about how Brahma's fifth head was severed by Mahadev to Narayan. And he said, "Oh my God, my father has four heads now." So, Narayan uh said, "Narada, it's all Maya." Everything is an illusion. And so, Narada Muni asks, "What is Maya?" Narayan says, "I will tell you, but first get me some water.
(33:52) " So, Narada Muni goes to the river. He sees a very beautiful woman by the river. And he marries her. Soon, they have kids. Then, they have grandkids. Now, one day, a flood destroys everything. His home, his wife, his sons, everything. And Narada is heartbroken. And at that time, Narayan comes into view. Narayan says, "Narada, where's my water? I asked for water.
(34:26) " So, then Narada realized, "Oh, so, everything is an illusion. And everything is Maya. Everything is temporary in this world and uh uh and now I realize. And Na- Narayana told him ki be prepared Narada, there is going to be much Maya in the world. >> Why do you think there is so much Maya in the world according to whatever you've read? >> Actually, Maya we can surpass Maya very easily.
(35:05) It's the uh it's one of the easiest things we can do. Our only obstacle, which is one of the most psychologically deadly obstacles is our mind. >> Okay. >> If our mind is not ready to accept it, then we will not be able to pass Maya. But if our mind is ready and and one more thing I I have said is ki control your mind because a controlled mind is your best friend and a and a loose, wild, loose mind is your worst enemy.
(35:41) So, the biggest obstacle to surpassing Maya is our mind itself. >> And what does Krishna talk about the mind? >> The mind basically there are five senses, six if the mind is included. And so, he says ki ye pa- che all six of these should be in your control. You shouldn't be like to your mind ki yes, sir. Yes, sir.
(36:12) You should be like I'm the boss. I control. It should uh it should be like you choose what is good for your mind and uh your senses, not the other way around. >> And in the practical world, the present world that we are in, what do you think are the steps that people can do to control their mind? >> So, firstly is to control your senses.
(36:39) Automatically, you will start controlling your mind. By senses, I don't just mean uh that you cannot touch this, you cannot touch that. I mean every single sense. Like if something you're looking at is harmful, then you have to stop looking at it, no matter what. Even if you Even if you are admiring it so much, you should not look at it.
(37:02) If you smell something harmful, like uh for example, perfume is harmful to some people. If the If you continue to smell that perfume, it will obviously harm you. If you eat something that's good, but it's harmful, it'll harm you. And the If you touch something, basically, we all have the feeling that I wish I could uh touch a cloud.
(37:32) That's also harmful because your hand will be fully wet and weak. And so the And automatically, when you control these, I will not look at that, I will not smell that, I will not eat that, I will not touch that, your mind starts understanding that this is good, this is bad. And uh this can be uh explained that whatever um uh there's something known as uh a desire.
(38:05) Right? So, whenever a human desires something, they want it. Unfulfilled desires cause anger, anger causes delusion, and delusion basically just rots the mind. And in that small cycle a human is ruined. >> Mhm. >> So, the best way is to control our mind. And the best way to do that is just to be peaceful, meditate maybe, maybe chant.
(38:44) Meditation is different for multiple people, so yeah. >> Okay, so when you said there is a desire and unfulfilled desire starts to rot our mind. Mhm. Why do you think we have desires? Has Krishna spoken about that? >> So, I don't know the answer to it, but the best guess I have is when we look uh this is not common for everybody, but when we look at something else, for example, uh my friend has this mug.
(39:16) And I see the mug and I'm like, "Oh wow, the mug is so pretty." Then I'm immediately like, "I need a better mug right now." >> Mhm. >> So, that is one of the root causes for desire. >> Okay, so when you talk about shlokas, right? Are there any favorite shlokas for you? >> Yes. >> Yeah, can you tell us what they are? >> Mhm.
(39:36) Yad yad acharati shreshthas tat tat evetar janah sa yat pramanam kurute lokas tad anuvartate. Meaning, whatever a great person does, common people will follow. Whatever standards they set, the entire world follows. >> Mhm. >> There are um there are multiple powerful shlokas outside of the Bhagavad Gita also. Like, for example, Matru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava, Acharya devo bhava.
(40:13) >> Mhm. >> Meaning, treat your mother, father, and teacher as God. >> Mhm. Okay. And uh also generally because my name is Gayatri, when people ask me, "What is the meaning of your name?" All that I know is meaning meaning of my name is a mantra. What is the significance of Gayatri mantra? >> See, Gayatri mantra is the most powerful mantra there is.
(40:41) Like to attain wisdom, rishis back then used to sir sir sing this mantra on repeat. Repeat mode every every And uh even when you hear the syllables, there's this feeling inside you ki I'm getting goosebumps, karke. And that's not the thing just for Gayatri mantra, for every mantra there is, you have that goosebumps coming when you're listening.
(41:08) And yeah, the And the significance of Gayatri mantra is it is uh Gayatri is another name for Ma Saraswati. Another name for Ma Saraswati is also Vakdevi, meaning the goddess of speech. >> Do you think values like these are being taught in school? >> I don't know. >> In your school? >> That also I'm unsure. >> Okay, but do you think values like these should be taught in schools? >> Yes.
(41:36) >> And how do you think we can get started? Like is it parents getting to know about this or teachers having a specific class where they teach values like this? What do you think will be the difference in children? >> They would become better human beings because be it whatever religion, every religion just teaches you one thing, be a good human being.
(41:56) As was rightly said by my godfather. So, uh he says he's an atheist, by the way. So, he says ki the one thing I don't like about religion is that all religions teach the same thing. Be a good human being, be peaceful, be calm. But what are we doing? We're doing the complete opposite.
(42:19) There are wars all over the world. So, yeah. >> And your generation is very different from my generation. So, when I was 9 years old, I did not have the kind of exposure like you guys have. No televisions, no social media. How is this affecting you guys now? >> So, like uh So, you mean that if we don't have social >> I'm asking you generally, like a 9-year-old.
(42:51) My when I was 9 years old, it was a completely different life and you guys have a completely different life. What What are the thoughts that you have right now at the age of 9? Or what kind of conversations do you have with your friends right now? >> Uh my friends and I only discuss one thing. How do I complete my incomplete work in school? Because I'm absent so much that I have quite a lot of incomplete work.
(43:17) But the conversations I have with my friends is basically what did you bring for tiffin? >> Mhm. >> What should we celebrate our birthdays on? >> Mhm. >> Like very basic things like uh uh one of my uh Like the thing uh the topic of my conversation with my friends, you'd expect it to be what the third chapter of the book Bhagavad Gita says. No, it's the complete opposite.
(43:43) I'll be asking them, "Oh, did you see that new song today released by Blackpink?" And they're like, "Yeah, I did." So, I'm like, "Yeah." >> Do you have conversations about Bhagavad Gita with your friends? >> Very rarely, but when I do, yes. >> Yeah? Are they also curious to know all of these things that you know? >> not.
(44:02) If I start the conversation, then they'll get, "Achha, okay, okay." And then they'll start asking. >> Okay. So is there any part where Krishna talks about how to go through betrayal? Let's say somebody has betrayed me. And I have a lot of anger or resentment against that person. How do I overcome that? >> So I like I mentioned before this podcast, I have read the Bhagavad Gita multiple times, but still it is very difficult to remember.
(44:32) But um you don't necessarily need to remember it to just know the teaching. It is key. Pehli baat to the Bhagavad Gita's main thing is to be a peaceful and good human being. And what would a peaceful and good human being do in the situation? They would they would just ignore or forgive that person. If they forgive and you do it again and again and again, then you have to act.
(45:01) Then you have to act because Pandavas kitne bar Kauravas ko puche ki bhai de do de do de do. No, they didn't listen. Obviously the Kauravas had to suffer, but still Kauravas hi bhugat rahe the, but still that mindset is that keep be peaceful until it crosses a line. >> You think the Kurukshetra war could have been avoided? >> Yes.
(45:29) >> By? >> By just giving over the kingdom. Like one of the worst things about Duryodhana is that he's just downright greedy. And he's not ready to accept it or to even try to ki I'm oh I've been acting bad. I should do do something about it. No, he's just like no, I will not give the Kauravas Pandavas their kingdom back.
(45:55) Why should I? They have a better kingdom than me. I want it. I want it. So obviously that mere childish behavior killed 4.7 lakh >> people >> people And what's worse is that they dragged innocent animals into this. >> So now from the entire Bhagavad Gita that you've read, if you have to give me lessons, these are the lessons that you can practice in your day-to-day life and you can associate that with few stories that it can impact people, what would they be? >> Okay, so firstly I'll start with to be detached. I can't practice this myself
(46:39) as I'm still a child but still to be detached. It would be key We'll take the example of somebody who teaches and that is Dronacharya. So Dronacharya Well, many people think he fought in the Kurukshetra war because of his allegiance to Hastinapur. No. Dronacharya had no connection with the Hastinapur or the bloodline whatsoever that I know of.
(47:16) And Dronacharya could have easily chosen to stand with the Pandavas. And he loved Arjun too. Arjun was his favorite student. But it was attachment that destroyed him. Attachment to his son. I think we all know the cause of his death. >> Which is? >> He thought his son was killed. And he was so attached that he sat down in Dhyana and he just sat down and Dhrishtadyumna cut off his head.
(47:47) Like that's so funny to me that you've been fighting this war, you've killed thousands of people in uh uh in so many days and you're just telling me that Dhrishtadyumna killed you because you gave up. Confusing. Because actually Dronacharya was uh, uh, one of the most harmful things to the Pandava war, uh, Pandava side.
(48:17) But like Bhishma, he was killing thousands of people per day. So, yeah. >> Okay, one is detachment. What is the second lesson? >> It would be to make sure that you rise above all materialistic things. >> Mhm. >> Like, um, money, gadgets, land. Yeah, I don't think I need to elaborate much on this. But to to be in a state key I'm not greedy for that.
(48:55) >> Mhm. Okay. So, detachment, move above the materialistic things. Next? >> I think this is going to be my final lesson, but it is that uh, I can't choose there are so many, but it is to be a good human being. Most important. If you're not a good human being, then what is the point of being detached and having risen all above all materialistic things? If you're not compassionate, what is the point? If you're not uh, selfless, what's the point? If you're not humble, what's the point? If you're not modest, what's the point?
(49:40) So, yeah. >> Mhm. Do you believe in reincarnation? >> Yes, because a lot of it has happened in the Mahabharata itself. That the hunter who killed uh Krishna. He is said to be Vali. >> Mhm. >> The monkey king. Because Rama killed him from behind the tree. Vali was born as the killer of Krishna as his in his next life.
(50:10) >> Mhm. >> So, yeah. >> Are there any instances of reincarnation that has been spoken about in Mahabharata? >> Um Yes. You The Pandavas are actually five Indras from five different ages. >> Mhm. >> Okay. And I'm not sure, but as to the story I have read, I think the present-day Indra was born as Arjun, but I'm not sure.
(50:42) Other than that, uh what do you say? Uh Brihaspati was born as Dronacharya. >> Mhm. >> So, yeah. >> There are stories of incarnation there reincarnation there. So, a lot of people get scared of the word karma. Right? But karma means action. Karma is action. Right? So, what you sow is what you reap.
(51:09) What has Krishna spoken about karma? >> Karma uh like um like we talked about earlier, it should be done without want of the fruits. >> Mhm. >> And karma is uh one more thing he said is that there is not a single moment where you're sitting idle. Even if you say, "I'm resting." Resting is still a verb. >> Mhm. >> There is not a single person in this world who is sitting idle.
(51:43) See uh sitting is also a verb. >> Mhm. >> So, every moment of your life, you're doing something. Whether it's blinking, floating, crying, whatever. It is everything in life is a verb. So, there is no point trying to escape from action. When it's next to impossible. >> Mhm. What's the difference between karma and dharma? >> Karma is a like action.
(52:18) And also it is tit for tat. >> Mhm. >> While dharma is righteousness. It's justice. So, the they they sound very similar. Like my friend once asked me that you should be a karmic person. I asked her, "What do you mean by that?" You should follow righteousness. No, that's called a dharmic person, not a karmic person.
(52:43) So, yes. >> Do you think we all have a purpose in life? >> Yes. Although many people are still figuring their purpose. Yes, multiple people do have a purpose. Every person on Earth has been born for a reason. >> Mhm. >> Because we think of Dhritarashtra as useless. Because he barely did anything. Dhritarashtra was actually the reason why this entire war happened.
(53:13) >> How? >> Dhritarashtra never actually tried to stop his son. >> Mhm. >> If he had stopped his son at an early age, maybe maybe maybe his sons would be alive. Maybe Abhimanyu would be alive. Maybe the uh the Dronacharya uh Bhishma would all be alive. But, no. Of course not. >> Have you heard of this word manifestation? >> Yes.
(53:38) >> And what do you think about that word manifestation? >> Actually, I have a question to you about that. >> Okay. What is that? >> So, what is the difference between karma and manifestation because uh uh recently somebody asked me about manifestation and I got confused because uh to me they both uh feel the same.
(54:02) >> Okay. >> Key what you do, uska the rebound is that is uh called as karma and when you do something, the actions you do for it is what I understood manifestation as. >> Okay, that's a very interesting question. So, now I'm just going to show you an illustration. If I'm just going to drop this pen, the pen is falling down.
(54:24) Why? >> Because of gravity. >> Correct. So, now it does not matter if Gayatri believes in gravity or Paridhi believes in gravity, gravity exists. Just like how gravity is a natural law of the universe, manifestation, the process of manifestation which people think is very magical, it is not. So, manifestation is also a process of bringing into reality whatever we think in mind.
(54:49) So, for example, let's say I want to buy a car or I want to start a business. I want to do something which starts in the mind. To bring it into reality, it is not just physical action that brings it into reality. So, basically what happens is you and I are able to see in light. So, why when there is no light, you cannot see me, I cannot see you.
(55:11) Correct? When we switch off the light, we cannot see each other. But when I switch on the light, we can see each other. Why? Our eyes of the entire spectrum of light, it can only see so much. Like when we are speaking, there are other rays here. There is Bluetooth, there are other rays which you and I cannot see it.
(55:29) Similarly, what manifestation says is Paridhi is vibrating at a specific frequency. She's not solid. She's vibrating at a specific frequency which this eyes cannot understand. Gayatri is vibrating at a specific frequency. Now, Paridhi's frequency and Gayatri's frequency are very different. How? Based on what your thoughts are, what your feelings are, what your emotions are, what your actions are, what your words are, and what Paridhi believes about her.
(55:59) Belief is very important. Depending on what frequency you're vibrating at, in the universe, there are similar frequencies. So, you, let's say you're vibrating at 10. Whatever is in the universe that is vibrating at 10 will naturally come into your life. So, for example, let's say I'm vibrating at the frequency of abundance.
(56:19) Making a lot of money, helping a lot of people, starting my own business, serving a lot of people. That is a thought, belief, action, everything I have. So, the universe will send me opportunities which matches that frequency. Let's say now I'm vibrating at jealousy. I'm thinking negative thoughts.
(56:36) I'm thinking I'm not good enough. I'm not worthy. Things are not working out for me. When that becomes my vibration, in the universe, universe will send me people, circumstances, situations, things, everything to match that frequency. So, the people that you mostly meet in your life are somewhere closer to your frequency. So, when you go above, when your frequency, your thoughts, you surrender, you start becoming more closer to the divine, and you keep going up, if people don't match your frequency, naturally they leave your life.
(57:07) Have you noticed something like that? Some of your friends not being your friends anymore? >> Yes. >> Yeah. That is because it does not mean we are better than them. They are not better than us. That is not because the minute you think you are better than them, who's coming in between? Our ego. Our ego is saying, "Hey, see, I am better than you.
(57:24) " No, we all came from the same source. We are all going to go back to the same source. So, we are not thinking it from the egoic perspective. We are looking at it from the perspective of okay, I am thinking better thoughts, my life is getting better. For some reason that person is staying stuck there. You can either help the person, if the person does not listen, we leave the person and we progress in life.
(57:46) So, manifestation and karma are closely related to each other, but manifestation happens because of a lot of invisible forces also. So now, what do you want to manifest in your future? >> Um happiness. >> Oh, that's sweet. What is happiness according to you right now? Because I'm sure it is going to keep changing as you grow. >> Happiness to me is learning.
(58:11) >> Ah, okay. >> Like um before I met Amigana I knew a lot of fake stories. I thought they were real and the moment she was like and those fake stories were like fog. She was like, "Okay, no." And so she um then I learned about manifestation. Then with one of my another hosts, Kritika Didi, I learned more about English and public speaking.
(58:42) >> Nice. >> So, I like to learn. And basically I have um I don't I don't like being asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" >> Why? >> Because that's in the future. Future my future, present my present. What I want to do, I will later on would find out, not now. Now I'm finding out what I am capable of doing.
(59:11) >> What are the things especially when you're learning something new? Let's say you're learning about manifestation, learning about speaking, learning about our Puranas. What feeling does it give you on the inside? >> My brain just process it and then processes it and then goes, "Achha, okay." Then it immediately discards all the first thing false things out saying, "We don't want you to linger here anymore.
(59:37) Sorry." And and the feeling that okay, now this is completely original fact-able one. So, yeah. >> So, now that you've started speaking about what you've been reading all these years, a lot of people are coming to you appreciating you and speaking about like, "You're such a wise child at the age of nine.
(1:00:03) " How does it make you feel? >> It makes me feel happy. And uh my father told me because actually I don't have any idea whatsoever made social media be catching right. I just go I blah blah blah and then I come back. But my father uh told me that because of you multiple people are starting to learn more about our Indian history. And the feeling that I promote not just keyword just learning about Alexander the Great but also about Kumaraswami Mudaliar, it makes me feel happy.
(1:00:47) That party we need right. Everybody remembers everybody is aware. That makes me feel happy. Do people know our country isn't weak? Our country was once the world's knowledge center with the help of knowledge Nalanda and Takshashila. So, yeah. >> So, can you talk a little bit about Nalanda University? >> I don't know much.
(1:01:18) What I know is how brutally and cruelly it was destroyed. For one thing I have a personal connection with books and I absolutely love books. So the worst one of the worst things that happened to India was uh burning down of Nalanda University. The massive library which had 9 million plus manuscripts was set on fire.
(1:01:50) And the fire kept on burning for months. Do it The more painful but I did I think centuries worth of knowledge destroyed in a single moment. Destroyed in a single decision. >> Whose decision was that? >> Bakhtiyar Khilji. >> Mhm. >> A Turkish invader. He came to India in the 12th century. And in 1193 CE Nalanda was burned.
(1:02:20) >> And why did he do that? >> Nobody knows. I mean, not nobody. I don't know. >> Okay. >> So but the fact that so many people lost touch was just heartbreaking for me. So yeah. >> And also when you speak so much so proudly about there've been so many Indian legends. Some of them have been forgotten. Who are your favorite Indian legends that are not very famous but they've done some crazy good work for the country? >> Um one is um the Mudaliar twins.
(1:02:56) So those Mudaliar twins are the reason why we have Lakshadweep with us today. Because actually after noticing Lakshadweep the Pakistani ship was going there. If it hadn't been for Sardar Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and for those twins then Lakshadweep have been Pakistani territory right now. So Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel got to know what's happening.
(1:03:26) He told he immediately alerted them and they sent I think it was Malayali ships and they claimed Lakshadweep before Pakistan could reach there. Then there is um Kya bolte hain? Forgot the word. Han, Jijabai. She's the reason why Shivaji Maharaj grew up to be proud of and be humble at the same time about his Indian culture. And Jijabai not only raised Shivaji, she also raised Sambhaji one and Sambhaji
(1:04:12) two. Sambhaji one as in Shivaji's brother and Sambhaji two as in his son. And one of the most heartbreaking things is that nobody ever play pays Jijabai any attention. Jijabai ki wajah se Sambhaji Maharaj grew up to learn more. To be proud of his Indian culture. When Sambhaji Maharaj was barely 23 Shivaji Maharaj died.
(1:04:44) It is because of learning from Jijabai that he remained strong. >> Mhm. Why do you think there are so many Hindu gods, but in other religions there are not so many gods? Why is that? >> know. >> Okay. >> Because actually it's not just Hinduism that has multiple gods. There's one more religion that shares the same factor factor and that is Egyptian.
(1:05:13) >> Mhm. >> Kajol. They have multiple gods. Sometimes it gets confusing for me to read it. And um and so Indian culture may not be one in the entire world, but it's unique in its own way. >> And you like studying history a lot? >> Yes, in fact >> And how do you remember all these time era, dates, names, and all of that? >> Actually, it's because once I read something, once I start reading something I'll be very engrossed in it.
(1:05:51) As long as it I'm doing it willingly. If I'm forced to do it, then no, you're not going to expect me to remember anything. Because if I'm doing it willingly then I'll immediately start learning. Achha, yeah. Oh, that's the thing. Achha. That's the date. If somebody's forcing me that you can only read about Hitler, not about Bhagavad Gita.
(1:06:17) I'll have no interest. And in fact, even if you give me one of my favorite topics and you force me to read on that only, no, that's not no. >> And do you think some parents are making this mistake of forcing children into doing something? >> No idea. >> Okay. But what do you think parents should be doing so that the children can become the best in whatever they like? >> They should teach their child a few values.
(1:06:50) One punc- punc- uh well, punctuality, which unfortunately is one of the values I lack in school because I'm one of those late Latif students in school. Then number two be a good and compassionate and kind and not at all an overly saintly human being. >> Mhm. Why? >> Overly saintly means like if you're actually being if you're actually being unfairly treated, don't hesitate to stand up.
(1:07:28) >> Mhm. >> Then uh third is to have a good health which as you can see is another thing I lack. >> Why would you say that? >> I'm actually sick. I have a cold, so. >> Okay. >> Then it is to learn more about their history instead of paying attention about other history only. It's not a bad thing to learn about what what was Egyptian history or Greek history or whatever history.
(1:08:02) Uh but it's not good to just give your history the cold shoulder, so yeah. >> What makes you sad generally in life? >> Anything emotional. >> Like? >> If immediately if somebody plays an emotional song, I'll just leave the room or else I'll start to cry really. >> Yeah? You're very sensitive. >> Yes. >> Okay. And how do you come out of that emotion? >> By thinking funny things.
(1:08:35) >> That's so sweet. Paridhi, it's honestly I mean from the time that we decided to get in touch with you because we've seen some amazing work that you've done. My entire team has been in awe with you, the kind of understanding that you have about things at such a beautiful young age. Yes, I love the fact that you don't like the question of what do I want to do in the future and people asking you that question, but do you have a direction in which you would love to flourish in the future? >> It would be just to be a good human
(1:09:07) being. I've said this like a gazillion times in this one podcast, but I don't want myself ever to be a bad human being. Just >> What is bad according to you? >> Unkind. Not compassionate. Cruel. >> Mhm. >> Um greedy. >> Mhm. >> One who envies and becomes jealous quite quickly. Yeah. >> Now, if at all you find that quality coming inside of you, let's say you're looking at somebody and even without your knowledge the jealousy quality is coming.
(1:09:46) How do you handle that? >> I just quickly remind myself that it's not necessary for me to like um it's a good thing they have it. And just because they have it doesn't mean I should have it. Like maybe maybe if because everybody is unique in their own way. Everybody has some things some people don't have some things. And that's completely fine.
(1:10:13) I do not need I do not need a doll camper van to be a good person. Neither does my friend need the knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita to be a good person. >> Mhm. >> So, yeah. >> That's very, very lovely. Thank you so much for coming all the way from Mumbai and we heard that you were not keeping well.
(1:10:42) You still have a little bit of cold and you've managed to come here, spend this time with us, and I had a great time having this conversation. You're very, very inspiring, not just for me and I'm sure for everybody who's watching who's very, very inspiring. Keep doing the fabulous work and keep inspiring more people. >> Mhm.
(1:10:59) Thank you.