The Rite Plan

One day Dronacharya, Guru of the Pandavas and Kauravas decided to test his students on their Concentration. He called all of them and told that today he will test all the students on their archery skill. He said that he has put a wooden bird with a painted eye on a tree across the river, and the students have to hit the eye of that bird with a single shot to pass that test. First he called Yudhishtra. Dronacharya asked, “Please tell me what you can see.” Yudhishtra replied, “I can see the bird, the tree, its branches, and the fruits.” Dronacharya told him to leave the bow and arrow. Similarily he called most of the students and asked them to explain what they can see. Most of them replied in the same manner, and were asked not to shoot by their Guru. Finally, Arjuna was called and was asked the same question. He replied, “Gurudev, I can see only the eye of the bird.” On hearing his reply, His Guru asked him to shoot. Arjuna shot the arrow at the given target and accomplished the task…

When I was a kid, my Grandfather used to tell me lot of stories, a privilege which most of the kids this generation are devoid of. One of the stories which I still remember is about Death. The story goes around like this – During early times, Death was one thing which used to happen to people at any point of time without any reason. When the time of their departure from this earth used to come, people died instantaneously, no sickness, no accident; they simply used to fall on ground and were declared dead. This made families very upset. They all gathered together and prayed to the Lord of Death – Yamdoot. He answered their prayers and asked them what they are looking for. People told Him that our loved ones are hale and hearty one day, and then suddenly they die without any reason and this way doesn’t give us any time to prepare ourselves for their death both mentally and emotionally. Yamdoot understood their plight and finally changed the way he used to take lives. He said from now …