Purity is Power by K. Subrahmanyam

Purity is Power by K. Subrahmanyam

1. In which areas do we need purity?

Answer: First of all we need purity in food, water, and air. We desire for pure surroundings, pure heart, and pure love. We prefer pure environment and society.

2. Write the importance of purity of environment.

Answer: Purity of environment promotes physical and mental health and peace of mind. We do require environmental purity for overall health.

3. What different tasks were assigned to Yudhishthira and Duryodhana?

Answer: Drona asked Yudhishthira to bring one bad person from Hasthinapura and Duryodhana to bring one good person from the same society.

4. "Child, the food is insufficient for you. You may have this also." What does this statement suggest about Pavaharibaba's attitude?

Answer: Pavaharibaba was pious, pure and affectionate. He was pure at heart; having metamorphosing ability thus he transformed the thief into a good man.

5. How did the thief react when Pavaharibaba offered him more food?

Answer: When Pavaharibaba offered him more food, the thief reacted positively. He prostrated himself before the saint. He was wonder-struck by the affectionate words of the pure soul.

6. Mention the manner of Gautam's tapasya.

Answer: Gautam observed rigorous austerities to obtain certain powers. He stood on a single foot; he controlled his senses; he meditated on the chosen deity.

7. "I was serving my husband and feeding my children". What does this statement suggest about the lady's attitude towards duty?

Answer:  The lady was sincere in service, faithful in doing duties and loving without selfishness thus she was pure.

8. The man was bright with purity. How does the author bring this out?

Answer: The man delayed Rishi Gautama as he was engaged in serving his parents. The man was bright with purity as he was sincere in service, faithful in doing duties and loving without selfishness.

9. How was Gautam's ego purified?

Answer: Gautam's ego was purified by the dutiful housewife and the man sincere in service whom Gautama saw doing their karmas calmly. Gautama valued their conduct and purity; his pride of tapasaya disappeared.

10. Who is pure according to the author?

Answer: According to the author one who is sincere in service, faithful in doing duties and loving without selfishness is pure.

11. What is the importance of pure atmosphere?

Answer: It is not enough, if we are born pure. We should also be brought up in a pure atmosphere among the cultured people. Else, the inborn purity will wither away or will get eclipsed by the contamination time and place of impure environment.

Answer the following questions in about 60-80 words each:

1. What are the merits of purity?

Answer: We are fond of purity because purity promotes health. Purity provides peace of mind. Both for bodily health and mental health, we need purity. We do require environmental purity for overall health. Purity of body is physical health. Purity of speech is unsullied truth. Purity of heart is unselfish love. Purity of thought is righteous reason. Purity of mind is wholesome peace. Purity of action is sincere and unselfish service. Purity of society is harmonious unity. Purity of environment is soul-elevating serenity. Purity of mind makes our vision, words and deeds pure. It has also the power to purify people. Evil has no place in the presence of purity. Nor can it face purity, as darkness cannot face the sun.

2. "As is the mind, so is the vision". Explain it with reference to the Mahabharata episode cited by the writer.

Answer: In the Mahabharata, there is an interesting episode to illustrate the nature of purity. The Pandavas and Kauravas were Drona's disciples. They were once summoned by the preceptor Drona for a test. The eldest of the Pandavas Yudhishthira, was asked to bring one bad person from the society. The eldest of the Kauravas, Duryodhana, was asked to fetch one good person from the same society in Hasthinapura. After a thorough search, both the cousins returned empty-handed. The pure minded Yudhishthira found everyone to be pious and pure. The impure mind of Duryodhana found everyone to be evil and impure. As is the mind, so is the vision.

3. Describe the significance of the crane episode.

Answer:  Once rishi Gautama did tapasya to obtain certain powers. He observed rigorous austerities and finally he obtained power to kill a bird by just gazing at it.

The crane episode tells us that tapasya to obtain power is not an upliftment of soul, heart and mind. Power only made Gautama proud and unkind.

Gautam's ego was purified by the dutiful housewife and the man sincere in service whom Gautama saw doing their karmas calmly. Gautama valued their conduct and purity; his pride of tapasaya disappeared. He turned modest. He became pure without anger, ill-will or haughtiness.

4. Why are Samskaras important in our life?

Answer: Man does inherit the traits of animals. But through training he becomes man. Through samskaras and Nature, the impure legacy from the animals is washed away and the latent purity in man is made to shine.  

The elements of Nature have the ability to purify not only things but also beings as well. Man makes use of the elements to purify his body. Very often, for want of proper and pure environment many a gem remains hidden in sands, and many a flower withers away unseen in thorns. Sometimes insufficient and improper training spoils the inborn traits of virtue. Even if the inborn nature is a little impure, we can purify it and make it perfect through nurture.

Q. 5. How does bringing up make all the difference in shaping lives? Illustrate with the help of the parrots' episode.

Answer: It is not enough, if we are born pure. We should also be brought up in a pure atmosphere among the cultured people. Else, the inborn purity will wither away or will get eclipsed by the contamination of time and place of impure environment.

Two parrots were brought up by two people: one was a hunter, the other a scholar. They both trained their pets in speech. The first parrot brought up by the hunter spoke words of harshness. Its expressions were crude, rude and uncivilized. The second bird had acquired softness in speech. It spoke with refinement and culture. Both the parrots were brothers born to the same mother bird. But on account of the bringing up and the atmosphere available around, their expressions and behaviour differed greatly.

6. Justify the title of the lesson, ‘Purity is Power'.

Answer: The title of the lesson ‘Purity is Power’ is apt and suggestive. The lesson begins with Swami Vivekananda’s quote "Purity is Strength". The author clearly establishes in the beginning of the lesson that we desire for purity in food, water, and air. We desire for pure surroundings, pure heart, and pure love. We prefer pure environment and society.

Dr. K. Subrahmanyam elaborates the various aspects of purity with illustration from some ancient Indian epics and stories related ethical values and cultural heritage. The author discusses the supremacy of forgiveness, courtesy, politeness, mercy, benevolence, congenial company and purity of heart that enable us to purify our soul and transform even the most ferocious natures. He also focuses on the fact that faithful performance of duty and prompt good doing acts are the sources of the greatest virtue and purity.