Amazing Child Artist and other stories-- Dr. Muralidhar

 

*********************************************************************************

 Intellectual information! Amazing indeed.

Arjuna’s Arrows and Algebra!

Bhāskarāchārya (1114 -1185 CE), has been called the greatest mathematician of medieval India. He was born in Karnataka, and is considered the progenitor of Differential Calculus - 500 years before Newton and Leibniz!

Bhāskarāchārya wrote at least four mathematical treatises in Sanskrit. One of them, titled Leelavati, contains many algebra-related teasers, which have become the subject of significant research by scholars. These teasers are in the form of shlokas which pose the problems. The shlokas need to be interpreted correctly to decipher the meaning in order to find the solution.

Take a look at the shloka displayed below. 

पार्थ: कर्णवधाय मार्गणगणं क्रुद्धो रणे संदधे 

तस्यार्धेन निवार्य तच्छरगणं मूलैश्चतुभिर्हयान् |

शल्यं षड्भिरथेषुभिस्त्रिभिरपि च्छत्रं ध्वजं कार्मुकम् 

चिच्छेदास्य शिरः शरेण कति ते यानर्जुनः संदधे || ७६ ||

The direct meaning of this shloka is a question formulated as follows:

During the battle between Arjuna and Karna in the Mahabharata, Arjuna released some arrows. Of the released arrows:

* Half were consumed in stopping the arrows coming from Karna

* 4 times the squareroot of the arrows were consumed to control the horses of Karna's chariot

* 6 were for gaining control over Shalya, the charioteer of Karna. (Shalya was the maternal uncle of Nakula and Sahadeva)

* 3 were used to take on the umbrella and flag of the chariot and the bow of Karna.

* Finally Karna was killed by a single arrow.

So how many arrows were released by Arjuna in the battle?

Basic algebra easily yields the answer to this question, if the equation is formulated correctly.

Let the total number of arrows be X. The statements above can be reduced to the algebraic form

* X = X/2 + 4√X + 6 + 3 + 1

Solving the above, we get the value of X=100 for the total number of arrows shot by Arjuna.

However, the fun is not just in getting the algebra right. There is so much hidden information in this shloka. If we pause to think a little deeper about the hidden meanings:

* Even for an atirathi like Arjuna, it took as many as 50 arrows to stop the arrows of Karna - it tells us about the skills of Karna.

* That the horses needed 40 arrows to immobilize the chariot tells us about the kind of training given to the horses in the battle field.

* When even the horses needed 40 arrows, that Shalya the charioteer surrendered with just 6 tells us that he is favouring Arjuna.

* 3 arrows to take the chariot and the bow shows the helplessness of Karna.

* Once everything is in control the enemy should vanquished in just a single arrow.

So the rules and skills required to win such a battle *operationally * are: firstly, stop the enemy fire-power; second, immobilize the enemy by taking on his mobility- the horses and the driver; thirdly signal to him his helplessness by destroying the carriage, and finally eliminate the enemy himself.

If we analyze the same shloka on the spiritual side:

* To attain ultimate liberation, firstly one needs to control over his/her personal desires, this being a very difficult task, thus takes 50 arrows

* Then take control over 5 senses and sensual pleasures indicated by the horses. The 40 arrows needed to do this indicate the difficulty of the task.

* Gaining control over 5 senses will lead one to the control over the consciousness (manas, thought, ego) indicated by the driver.

* If all the foregoing are done, achieving the ultimate liberation (moksha) should be relatively easy.

This is the greatness of our ancestors in sanatana dharma - Vidya integrated with Values. Just a single shloka includes so much of knowledge!

👌👌🤔🤭🤗

**********************************************************************************

Twenty two ancient Indian health tips in Sanskrit.

1. अजीर्णे भोजनं विषम् ।

If previously taken Lunch is not digested..taking Dinner will be equivalent to taking Poison. Hunger is one signal that the previous food is digested 

2. अर्धरोगहरी निद्रा ।

Proper sleep cures half of the diseases..

3 मुद्गदाली गदव्याली ।

Of all the Pulses, Green grams are the best. It boosts Immunity. Other Pulses all have one or the other side effects. 

4. भग्नास्थि-संधानकरो लशुनः।

Garlic even joins broken Bones.. 

5. अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत्।

Anything consumed in Excess, just because it tastes good, is not good for Health. Be moderate. 

6. नास्ति मूलमनौषधम् ।

There is No Vegetable that has no medicinal benefit to the body.. 

7.  न वैद्यः प्रभुरायुषः ।

No Doctor is capable of giving Longevity. (Doctors have limitations.) 

8. चिंता व्याधि प्रकाशाय ।

Worry aggravates ill-health.. 

9. व्यायामश्च शनैः शनैः।

Do any Exercise slowly.

(Speedy exercise is not good.) 

10. अजवत् चर्वणं  कुर्यात् ।

Chew your Food like a Goat.

(Never Swallow food in a hurry. 

Saliva aids first in digestion.) 

11.  स्नानं नाम मनःप्रसाधनकरंदुः स्वप्न-विध्वंसनम् ।

 Bath removes Depression.

 It drives away Bad Dreams.. 

12. न स्नानमाचरेद्  भुक्त्वा।

Never take Bath immediately after taking Food.  (Digestion is affected). 

13. नास्ति मेघसमं तोयम् ।

No water matches Rainwater in purity.. 

14.  अजीर्णे भेषजं वारि ।

When there is  indigestion taking plain water serves like medicine.

15. सर्वत्र नूतनं  शस्तं, सेवकान्ने पुरातने ।

Always prefer things that are Fresh.. 

Whereas Rice and Servant are good only when they are old.

16. नित्यं सर्वा रसा भक्ष्याः ।।

Take the food that has all six tastes.

(viz: Salt, Sweet, Bitter, Sour, Astringent and Pungent). 

17. जठरं पूरायेदर्धम् अन्नैर्, भागं जलेन च ।

वायोः संचरणार्थाय चतर्थमवशेषयेत् ।।

Fill your Stomach half with Solids, 

(a quarter with Water and rest leave it empty.)

18. भुक्त्वा शतपथं गच्छेद् यदिच्छेत् चिरजीवितम् ।

Never sit idle after taking Food.

Walk for at least half an hour. 

19. क्षुत्साधुतां जनयति ।

Hunger increases the taste of food..

In other words, eat only when hungry.. 

20. चिंता जरा नाम मनुष्याणाम् 

Worrying speeds up ageing.. 

21. शतं विहाय भोक्तव्यं, सहस्रं स्नानमाचरेत् ।

When it is time for food, keep even 100 jobs aside. 

22. सर्वधर्मेषु मध्यमाम्।

Choose always the middle path. Avoid going for extremes in anything