In the kingdom of Surapur, there lived a young prince named Arjun. From his palace, he could see the distant mountains and the vast sea stretching to the horizon. He often heard stories of brave warriors and thrilling adventures, which made him dream of exploring the world and fighting in battles like the heroes of old.

One day, Arjun went to his father, King Veerbhadra, and said, "Father, I want to explore the mountains and sail the seas. I also want to lead our army into battle and bring glory to our kingdom."

The wise king smiled and said, "My son, from a distance, the mountains and seas may look beautiful, and battles may seem glorious, but up close, they are very different. I won’t stop you, but remember my words."

Excited, Arjun set off on his journey with his army. First, they climbed the mountains, which had always seemed peaceful from the palace. But as they went higher, the path became dangerous. The cold was unbearable and the rocks slippery. What had seemed beautiful now felt difficult and frightening.

Next, Arjun sailed the ocean. The sea looked calm from the shore, but once they were far from land, the waters grew rough. Strong winds and huge waves rocked the ship, and a fierce storm almost destroyed it. Arjun realized that the sea was not as peaceful as it seemed.

Finally, Arjun led his army into battle. He had imagined it would be exciting and glorious, but war was full of pain, suffering, and loss. He saw many of his soldiers injured and killed, and the weight of responsibility was heavy. The stories had not prepared him for the harsh reality of war.

Learnings:

Things that look beautiful or exciting from afar are often much more complicated up close.

Knowledge Bank

What is the significance of Hanuman Chalisa?

Hanuman Chalisa is a devotional hymn composed by Goswami Tulsidas Ji that praises Hanuman ji's qualities and deeds. It provides protection, courage, and blessings. You can incorporate its recitation into your spiritual practice to seek protection, courage, and blessings in times of need or as a regular devotional practice.

The Role of Effort and Divine Blessings

Hard work, perseverance, knowledge, skill, and experience are all important, but only as far as for performing actions effectively. However, the outcome is beyond your control. Only God determines the results of all actions, and without His blessings, nothing auspicious can occur.