Canto 1 Chapter 12 Flashcards
(11 cards)
- What was the first sign that the age of Kali had arrived? (2)
The first sign of misgivings was exhibited in the cursing of such a greatly intelligent and devoted king as Mahārāja Parīkṣit. The king is the protector of the helpless citizens, and their welfare, peace and prosperity depend on him. Unfortunately, by the instigation of the fallen Age of Kali, an unfortunate brāhmaṇa’s son was employed to condemn the innocent Mahārāja Parīkṣit, and so the King had to prepare himself for death within seven days.
- List two reasons Mahäräja Parékñit didn’t counteract the curse of the brähmaëa boy?(2)
1.Because he knew also that the Age of Kali had begun and that the first symptom of the age, namely degradation of the highly talented brāhmaṇa community, had also begun.
2.He did not want to interfere with the current of the time, but he prepared himself to meet death very cheerfully and very properly.
- What does Srila Prabhupäda indicate as “perfect management of state administration?” (4)
Because Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, was constantly engaged in the service of the Lord, and thus the parts and parcels of the Lord, the living beings under his careful administration, were perfectly attended with all comforts in this life and all progress in the next.
- How is the Lord the indirect protector of the unrighteous? (11)
The Lord is the indirect protector of the unrighteous also, for He rectifies their sins through His external potency.
- Why is wealth distributed to the brähmaëas? (14)
Because the brāhmaṇas give the highest quality of service in regard to the prime necessity of humankind.
- For what two reasons did the Lord save Mahäräja Parékñit in the womb? (16)
The first reason is that the child in the womb of his mother was spotless due to his being a pure devotee of the Lord. The second reason is that the child was the only surviving male descendant of Kuru, the pious forefather of the virtuous King Yudhiṣṭhira. The Lord wants to continue the line of pious kings to rule over the earth as His representatives for the actual progress of a peaceful and prosperous life.
- How does the Lord help the conditioned souls go back to Godhead? (16)
The Lord desires the conditioned souls hovering in the material creation to be reclaimed to go back home, back to Godhead, and thus He helps them by preparing the transcendental literatures like the Vedas, by sending missionaries of saints and sages and by deputing His representative, the spiritual master.
- Who are the three famous Bharatas? (20)
There are many Bharatas in history, of which Bharata the brother of Lord Rāma, Bharata the son of King Ṛṣabha, and Bharata the son of Mahārāja Duṣyanta are very famous.
- To whom is King Parékñit compared and why? (19-25)
Mahārāja Śibi for his great achievements, specifically in charity and protection. Mahārāja Śibi sacrificed his own son for the satisfaction of human beings in his kingdom.
- What is the difference between a vipra and a brähmaëa? (29)
The vipras are those who are expert in karma-kāṇḍa, or fruitive activities, guiding the society towards fulfilling the material necessities of life, whereas the brāhmaṇas are expert in spiritual knowledge of transcendence.
- What is the significance of the name Parékñit? (30)
Parīkṣit [examiner] because he would come to examine all human beings in his search after that personality whom he saw before his birth. Thus he would come to constantly contemplate Him.
