Life Vs. Death: The Different Concepts Of Life And Death

Indian ancient, cultural and oral texts deal only with the life. Wars and destruction are the only medium to remove adharma from the society and make people understand the concepts like lokasaṁgraha and manurbhava. These principles are expected to be followed practically before the physical death. Since the very beginning of human existence on the earth, there have been obstinate questions about life at various levels- philosophical, religious, social, psychological and cultural. In them, there has been a central question relating to life regulating principle. But in social psyche, life is treated against the background of the death. To them, life and death are two diametrically opposite concepts. It is this blending of life and death that
Death again requests that she shall be excused from causing the end of all creatures. Brahmā tells her that he is pleased with her penance. But the works he has given to her has to be done. He understands her feelings. But she need not experience any sorrow as ordained that creatures will bring their own death. She will be assisted by Yama. Disease, quarrels and natural calamities would cause creatures to die by themselves. It is stated that whatever is born, has to die. There can be no escape from death. This assuages death’s feelings and she has set about her task faithfully ever since. Brahmā further explains that she will merely oversee the transition. The burden of death shall be borne by those who live. Thus all creatures die not because of external factors but because of their own
Bhīṣma narrates the tale of an intelligent boy—Medhāvi, who teaches his father how the world is surrounded by the fear of death and how one can get rid of such fear. The son says that when the world is thus surrounded on all sides and is thus assailed, and when such irresistible things of fatal consequences fall upon it, how he can say these words so calmly. The sire asks that how the world is assailed. What is that by which it is surrounded. He asks what those irresistible things of fatal consequences are that fall upon it. Why he is creating fear in his father’s mind. The son answers the questions of his father that death is that by which the world is assailed. Decrepitude encompasses it. Those irresistible things that come and go away are the nights (that are continually lessening the period of human life). He further exclaims that death tarries for none (but approaches steadily towards every creature), how he may pass his time without covering himself with the garb of knowledge. When each succeeding night, passing away lessens the allotted period of one's existence, the man of wisdom should regard the day to be fruitless. Death comes to a man before his desires have been gratified. Death snatches away a person when he is engaged in plucking flowers of life and when his heart is otherwise