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“The future starts today, not tomorrow. ”
| VBA's Positive News |
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India: Bombay's Sensitive Index closes at 1-1/2 month high; earnings key
The BSE Sensex rose nearly 1 per cent on Thursday to close at its highest in 1-1/2 months after Axis Bank surged on better-than-expected June-quarter results, sparking a rally in other banking stocks as well. Axis results, which follow those of Infosys earlier this month when it comforted investors by sticking to its dollar revenue guidance, have instilled some hope of improving corporate earnings.
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US: Return of long-absent bumblebee near Seattle stirs scientific buzz
A North American bumblebee species that all but vanished from about half of its natural range has re-emerged in Washington state, delighting scientists who voiced optimism the insect might eventually make a recovery in the Pacific Northwest. 'It's a pretty big deal,' said Rich Hatfield, a biologist for the Oregon-based Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, which documents and reports such findings. 'It gives us hope that we can do some conservation work, and perhaps the species has a chance at repopulating its range,' he told Reuters this week.
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UK: Puffin census on Farne Islands shows numbers rising
Puffin numbers in a habitat in the north-east of England are making a comeback. A census on the Farne Islands, off the coast of Northumberland, showed there had been an 8 per cent increase from the last count in 2008. There are now just under 40,000 pairs of nesting puffins across the eight National Trust-owned islands. David Steel, head ranger on the Farne Islands, said the rise in numbers was a 'positive result and a step forward following worrying declines in recent years'.
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Thailand's tourism remains strong and contributes to economic growth
Thailand's tourism sector remains strong and plays an important role in contributing to economic growth. The Government has seen much progress on efforts to increase the country's tourism revenue to two trillion baht by 2015. The Prime Minister thanked the Ministry of Tourism and Sports for working actively with the private sector to boost the tourism sector. She stated that the Government wanted to see all related organizations work in an integrated manner, linking with provincial development strategies for tourism promotion in various areas, such as cultural tourism and medical tourism.
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World Round-Up
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Health Ministry likely to move review petition on SC order on medical exams
Unhappy over the Supreme Court verdict scrapping common entrance tests to medical colleges, India's Health Ministry is contemplating moving a review petition.
Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday said legal recourse was the only option and legal advice has been sought on the apex court's verdict.
"Naturally there is a legal recourse. There is no other way. We have to see if we can go for the review or whatever else we are required to do," Azad said when asked if the ministry was going for a review of the Supreme Court order.
A petition seeking review comes up before the same bench of the apex court which has delivered the judgement.
Azad said he has already held a meeting of top officials on the issue and asked them to study the judgement. "Once we study the judgement then we will take the future course of action," he said.
Reacting to the verdict, Azad said, "We were expecting a better outcome, but unfortunately that didn't happen. So it was a little demoralising for us because we wanted to clean up a number of things...We are a little upset with the decision."
The minister said students across the country now have to run from pillar to post and appear in different examinations and are still not sure of admission. Since the entrance tests are held around the same time, the students have limited options, he said.
"A lot of time is being wasted, lot of money is being wasted and it is too troublesome for the students. So that could have been taken care of only by one examination. Another important thing is it would have helped us to save some additional seats," Azad said citing examples of students seeking admission in different medical colleges in different seats and resultantly the seats blocked going vacant.
"As a result there is loss of human resource," he said.
The Supreme Court, in its order on July 18, scrapped holding of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to MBBS, BDS and post-graduate courses in medical colleges,paving the way for private colleges to conduct their own examination.
Students aspiring to pursue medical courses will now have to sit for separate examinations for private universities and colleges and shell out a big amount before taking admissions.
Over seven lakh students took the NEET this year for the under graduate courses conducted by Central Board Secondary Education (CBSE) on behalf of Medical Council of India (MCI).
Online counselling process for MBBS admissions on the basis of NEET exam is underway and the first round result under the all-India quota would be out Saturday. The counselling process for the state quotas would be completed by August 2.The Health Ministry had started the process of holding NEET for MBBS, BDS and post-graduate medical courses in 2009.
The NEET has been dogged by controversies all along with some states earlier objecting to holding of the exams only in one language and seeking conduct of tests in different regional languages. Some states also opted out of the all-India quota.Private universities and colleges opposed to the government proposal sought more time to prepare themselves for the all-India exam. They later challenged the MCI notification in the apex court.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
Your dreams may have been challenged over the last several weeks as the slow Mercury retrograde (now direct, but in the shadow period) added a few steps along the way that were not exactly planned. The ideal situation would be to see these as necessary corrections that bring you closer to your goal. You may have been caught up in the moment and message may have been crossed. Not to worry though, since this may provide you with a much better approach to your vision.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
The last few weeks may have been helpful in providing you with some insight and the wisdom of others. Conversations may have been your best source for ideas and suggestions. This may be especially true when it comes to working with friends or business associates. If you can find a way to glean useful hints without taking your eyes off the final project, you should be able to gain some vital information during your talks. Sometimes just getting your thoughts out in the open may really help.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 You may find that meetings and other group settings allow you to raise your voice about financial matters. You may be curious about that bottom line, and yet you may not see the whole picture just now. This may be the ideal time to get more information, so dig a little deeper and see if you can uncover the missing link. This may be one of the most useful talents that you can use lately. Your ability to do some background work may be just the right touch. The secret may be to eliminate any ambiguity.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
Effective financial planning may be one of those elusive challenges that you have had to pursue lately. With Mercury still in the shadow of his retrograde, you may want to gain some clarity. If anything in your calculations seems to have gone awry, this may be the perfect time to bring that subject to the table and get some outside opinions. You may be praised for your ability to spot a discrepancy and bring it to everyone's attention.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 Your strong creative spirit may require a bit of fine tuning before you bring your message to the world. If you can seize this moment to gain some clarity with your backers or investments options, you may be able to gain the necessary leverage to keep you on top of your game. The details may be a bit obscure, and if that causes you to rethink, then so be it. When it comes to being an assertive leader, you always seem to rise to the occasion.
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RIL may not rally much on Monday, but good long term bet: Analysts
NEW DELHI: After reporting a 19 per cent YoY rise in net profits numbers for the quarter ended June 30, analysts feel that Reliance IndustriesBSE 0.67 % (RIL) may not rally much on Monday as the price has already moved-up ahead of results.
"Post the results, the stock is likely to open with a gap-up of 2-3% on Monday; but any up tick will be sold into the market as the stocks has already moved higher ahead of results," said Jagannadham Thunuguntla, Head of Research at SMC Global in an interview with ET Now.
"The real rally in RILBSE 0.67 % will only happen next year when the company will announce any gas production find," added Thunuguntla. These results alone will not warrant any re-rating, he added.
According to analysts, the smart bump-up in the stock price may not happen post Q1 results on Monday, but investors can look at entering the stock on declines for a little longer time frame as the growth story remains intact.Shares of RIL surged for the fifth consecutive day in a row on Friday to touch its 6-month high of Rs 927.90 ahead of Q1 results for the current fiscal. The stock finally closed 0.6 per cent higher at Rs 923.15.
The stock has been in an uptrend since April and has rallied nearly 20 per cent as compared to nearly 7 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex in the same period.Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries on Friday reported a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs 5352 crore for the first quarter of the current financial year versus Rs 4,503 crore year-on-year. This is a percentage increase of 18.9 per cent YoY.
Revenue fell 4.6 per cent to Rs 90,589 crore on back of lower output from RIL's flagship KG-D6 gas fields. RIL earned $8.4 on turning every barrel of crude oil into fuel in the quarter as compared to $7.6 per barrel gross refining margin in the year-ago period.
KG-D6 gas production fell 53 per cent to 49.2 billion cubic feet in Q1.
"Numbers are pretty much in line with the expectations and there is nothing significantly changed except that the refining margins on GRMs they are little lower compared to the expected GRM," said Deven Choksey, MD, K R Choksey Securities in an interview with ET Now.
"Market is likely to remain excited more about the gas price hike and that is where the stock price movement will come," he added. I do not think on this number per se we should be seeing material change into the market mood, added Choksey.
Choksey is of the view that we might not see any larger amount of upside on the stock because it has already done a good run up till now.
After two-three quarters of flattish growth petchem has started contributing which is a positive sign and with revival in US markets - the consumption comes back into these kind of advanced products, say analysts.
Analysts are extremely positive on the stock for the next 2-3 quarter time frame on multiple factor. Apart from revival in petchem, shale gas business is also showing smart growth after remaining flat for a long time.
"So once the topline grows, the rupee remains weak, Reliance has it from both hands. You have shale gas which is up the curve again after a long time of flattish growth," said Prakash Diwan, Chief Portfolio Strategist - Prakash Diwan's Wealth Circle in an interview with ET Now.
"There is a huge upside that has not yet built into the stock on the shale gas front. So, if shale gas prices are to remain firm and if that were to happen Reliance would gain tremendously from that," added Diwan.
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Gymming at home
Mumbaiites are opting for the convenience of a home gym for a healthier lifestyle...
A gym at home is no longer a luxury that only the super-rich can afford. It is not a far-off dream anymore. There are many households who have incorporated a gym, however small, within their homes just for the benefits it offers. We spoke to actors Tusshar Kapoor, Jackky Bhagnani and singer Babul Supriyo about their gyms.
Tusshar Kapoor has a gym built in the front courtyard of his palatial bungalow in Juhu. "A gym at home is extremely beneficial and now I have the luxury of gymming whenever I want, for as long as I want, in the comforts of my home," smiles Tusshar. He is all body and brawn now, almost unrecognisable from his 'cute kid on the block' days of Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai.
The perfectly fit athletic body is swathed in a light gray T-shirt and we can see the rippling muscles as he pumps the irons to some fast foot-tapping music, while his trainer Pramod Dadlani guides him. The mirrors all around magnify the interiors of the gym. Tusshar reveals, "I am very much into fitness and am very regular about my training." Talking about his favourite equipment in the gym Tusshar says, "The treadmill gives me a high, a rush."
He is a very sports -oriented person. He says, "For five days I do weights and the other two days in the week I do cardio, yoga or play squash. I was under trained around two years back and Pramod changed my body type. I tease him by calling him a 'kasai' because he is very strict. I do not have a body-builder type of a body , rather, mine is athletic. The body-builder physique is just not in my genes."
All the balanced dieting and the rigorous workout the fine actor is following shows, and we will all get to see a new Tusshar in his forthcoming movies.
Many would not know that singer Babul Supriyo is a fantastic cook and they say that people who cook well, like eating well too. "I was growing fat and needed to lose weight. The success of Kaho Na Pyar Hai helped me earn money, so I enrolled myself into a posh gym in Juhu. But then just 'joining' didn't make me lose weight! A home-gym was something that became necessary to continue my workouts easily and to fulfill my desire to be healthy and slim." He bought all the equipment from Toronto. "My trainer Shyam Rahate and my interior designer Paresh Brahmbhatt helped me create this gym," says Babul. He confesses, "I still have a long way to go to reach my goal but my home-gym inspires me to keep at it."
He has a multi-gym, a treadmill, a cross-trainer, a cycle, a spinning bike that he purchased recently, weights and benches. "I also have a steam, Jacuzzi and massage shower unit that I use to reward myself whenever I manage a good hard workout," he smiles. He believes that just like everything else, gymming is not about how long you are at it but rather what all you are doing. "I try and stick to my regime," he says. Babul is looking forward to his maiden film as a hero that will be released next Friday. Five years ago Jackky Bhagnani used to be 130kgs.
And now as we look at the tall, slim and healthy Jackky, we realise that working out regularly and diligently can really make it all happen.
If you thought those 'before-after' images we keep seeing in the advertisements are photoshopped, then think again.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
If you have one talent (and you do have many), it may be your ability to nail the details. Your friends and co-workers may depend upon you for that minute clarity you seem to always understand. This time, however, you may be having just such a conversation with your partner, so be sure you have your facts straight and that you can present them with a degree of assurance. By the same token, if you do sense some miscalculation or statement, this may be an ideal time to straighten things out.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
Some of your current plans or projects may be gradually coming to a point of closure, so it may be particularly important to focus on last-minute details. This may be especially the case with new health routines you may have chosen. If you are uncertain about any of the details, you would be wise to seek out the answers. You may not have all the facts at this point, so take the time to ask more questions, look for alternatives, and make plans accordingly.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 You may be inspired by a recent proposal you have worked up with your friends. The creative bug may have gotten to you, and you may be eager to get the show on the road. Despite your enthusiasm, you may require more background information before you move on. Your intentions are grand and you can see the potential, but the facts may be just a bit askew, so clarity may be your ally in this matter. This may be the ideal time to raise your hand and ask those questions.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
Opportunities may arise with work that leave you scrambling to make plans at home. You may be trying to find the balance between these two important parts of your life. If you can state your expectations and requirements up front, you may be able to find the strategy that works the best for everyone. Your home may be affected by your work and vice versa, so that delicate conversation may evolve into an amicable solution. The secret, of course, may come in satisfying both ends of your daily life.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 This may be an opportune time to take detailed notes while in meetings or classes. The same may hold true for training or conferences where a lot of information comes your way. If you have questions, this may be the perfect forum to raise them. You may be especially happy later on that you took the time. Complex concepts may be part of your learning, so it may be more important than other times to gain some insight. Ask the right questions and don't settle for half-baked answers.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 This may be an important time to investigate some financial options for going forward. You may decide to go the grant route or raise funds through a large institution. As long as you keep your expectations reasonable and your requests simple, you may do fairly well. One thing you would be wise to avoid could be undefined terms. If there are any ambiguous conditions or restrictions, you may want to gain some clarity. The effort may prove to be one of the wisest things you'll do now.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
You may find yourself in an itchy spot with your partner. Things may be a little out of sync and you may be trying to work on the common ground. Semantics can get in the way so easily in relationships that you may not be surprised by the complexity of words and feelings with each other. This could be an ideal opportunity to get your thoughts out in the open and gain some important insights into each other - the type of conversation that brings you closer together.
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Moral Story
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SMS
“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart."
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
You manage things; you lead people.
A fellow stopped at a rural gas station, filled his tank, and took a break by his car while drinking a soda.
As he relaxed, he watched a couple ofmen working along the roadside. Oneman would dig a hole two or three feet deep and then move on. The other man came along behind him and filled in the hole.
The men worked right past the man and continued on down the road.
Overcome by curiosity, the fellow headed in their direction. "Hey there," he said. "Can you tell me what's going on here with this digging?"
"We work for the county government," one of them said.
"But one of you is digging a hole and the other is filling it up. What's up with that?" the man asked.
"Well," the worker replied, "normally there's three of us - me, Rodney, and Mike. I dig the hole, Rodney sticks in the tree, and Mike here puts the dirt back, but Rodney's out sick."
"So what does the work you're doing accomplish?" asked the man, not quite believing what he was seeing.
"Well," Mike said. "Just because Rodney's out sick, that don't mean we can't work, right?"
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16 lakh school seats, but only 9 lakh students in Hyderabad: Report
HYDERABAD: In what seems to be an irony, the city has more number of seats being offered by schools than students. In direct violation of the Supreme Court order in 2012 which had asked governments to regulate the surge of private schools, Hyderabad has at least eight private schools in every 5 km radius. The statistics by the school education department reveals that cities like Chennai, Bangalore and Mumnai have only 3-4 schools in every 5 km radius.
The alarming increase in the number of schools is a trend seen in the last five years, with big schools setting up branches in different areas. While there are around 9 lakh students in the city, the number of seats being offered by the 2,000 government and private schools in Greater Hyderabad is close to 16 lakh, a figure critics say is unheard of in other cities. Sadly at the same time, students in neighbouring districts like Nalgonda, Warangal and Ranga Reddy are struggling to get a seat given the less number of schools there.
"The government has sanctioned more schools for the city this academic year, adding on to the existing schools. Close to 40 per cent of the seats in most schools are left vacant every year as there are no takers," said S Srinivas Reddy, president, AP Recognised Schools Managements Association. The association had petitioned the state government as early as September 2012, asking it to regulate fresh sanctions being accorded to schools.
"Private managements set up schools in prime localities like Hyderabad as they tend to reap more benefits from cities than rural areas. But the government must allow for an equal distribution of schools in both rural and urban areas as per the requirement," said R Venkat Reddy, director, M V Foundation, an NGO working on school education.
However, when asked about the massive increase in the number of schools, officials of the school education department said they are left with no option but according sanctions. "The constitution allows for the setting up of institutions and we have been giving permission to institutions which have fulfilled the requirements specified under the AP Education Act," said an official. Critics, however, said that the city has way more schools than the department can inspect regularly.
Times View
The government should immediately crack down on the proliferation of schools in congested localities. It is saddening to see that on the city outskirts and in remote districts, students have to trek for hours to reach their schools. The government should immediately impose a ban on city schools trying to open branches and instead ask them to set up schools outside the city. Hyderabad wants quality education for its children and they have enough schools for it.
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A hero doesn't corrupt the game: Virat Kohli
MUMBAI: The effervescent look on an ever-smiling face and a quick riposte to everything that is thrown at him -- there isn't a dull moment when Virat Kohli is around.
It wasn't any different on Friday when the 24-year-old youth icon was presented as an ambassador for yet another brand. What's more, it is not only India Inc that is investing in him -- the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI), too, sees him as someone who can lead India sometime in the future.
For starters, Kohli has been asked to lead an inexperienced team to Zimbabwe. The India squad that departs for Harare in the early hours of Sunday for a five-match ODI series has a bunch of rookie bowlers after the selectors decided to give the regulars a much-needed rest along with captain MS Dhoni.
"I don't think experience matters, especially in limited overs. You need 11 players who are hungry for success, who are hard-working and whose vision is the team's victory. All 15 players are strong and it is a strong unit, which is good," said Kohli.
Although he didn't say it in as many words, Kohli expressed his disgust against the alleged match-fixers. When asked to define a hero and a villain which was the theme of the product, he said, "Hero is a person who respects the game and does not corrupt it. Those who corrupt the game are villains. They should be punished and they have been punished in the past."
He also had a few things to say to those who take illegal substances to boost their game. "This (doping) is not at all acceptable. Sport gives you everything in life. If you can't respect the game, you don't deserve to be there. Strict punishment should be handed to the guilty," Kohli later told a news channel.
Talking about his fearless and aggressive style of captaincy, Kohli said that leading from the front works for him. "I like to always lead from the front and set an example for whoever is playing with me or around me. I like taking responsibilities. That comes naturally to me," he said.
"The best quality is to not be afraid of anything. Even if you have seniors or players with a lot of experience in your team, you need confidence in your ability and think you can lead them. It is important you set an example with your performance quickly. Then you gain respect. If the respect is mutual between players and captain, the side is successful and it comes from performance, by winning matches for the team. That inspiration spreads in the team."
Ask Kohli who his superhero is and he spontaneously said, "Tendulkar." He added: "It has always been Tendulkar and it will be Tendulkar for life. He has inspired me immensely. I used to dream of winning games, because he used to do it single-handedly."
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Issaq
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Issaq
Movie Name : Issaq
Release Date : July 26, 2013
Genre : Drama
Producer : Shailesh R Singh, Dhaval Gada
Director : Rajshree Ojha
Music Director : Krsna, Sachin Gupta, Jigar
Cast : Prateik Babbar, Rajeshwari Sachdev, Makrand Deshpande, Neena Gupta, Prashant Narayanan, Sudhir Pandey, Prashant Kumar, Amit Sial, Vineet Kumar, Yuri Suri, Malini Awasthy, Amyra Dastur, Ravi Kissen.
Synopsis:
Issaq is a new upcoming bollywood Romantic Love story Type movie directed by Mr. Manish Tiwary and produce by the Shailesh Singh & Dhaval Gada. This is the new love story movie, After aashiqui 2 people are moving towards Romantic love type movie. This is basically a Love story of two couple, who love to each other and fight for their love, so movie is so intresting and hope people like this movie. One of the latest news about this movie is that this movie launch new faces in bollywood that is Prateik Babbar and Amyra Dastur. The actress in Issaq movie 2013 is looking so good and cute, here latest pics are not available right now as available we provide you.
So this is a movie based on Naxel activities, people hold Arms for fighting. Also this movie features a love story also like other incient movies Heer-Ranjha, Juliaer-ceasor and more other love story. So it is intresting to see the end of this movie that they both they or not. The trailer of this movie is officially launched on 31 May 2013.
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the names of all continents both start and end with the same letter.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
Power of always speaking the Truth
Paushya’s mahaarani gives her kundalas to Udanka, but warns him that “Takshaka always has an eye on this — so be careful”. Udanka thanks the queen and returns to Paushya to ask him for leave. Paushya, who knows the shaastras, pleaded Udanka to accept his aatithyam and eat at his place.
Udanka accepted the King’s request and Udanka sat to eat in a separate Bhojana shaala for vidvaans. The very first piece he was about to eat had a hair strand in it!
For Indians, parishubhrata is of utmost importance and especially for eating. There are many rules in shaastras about how a person who eats must be, how the person who cooks must be and who clean the food itself must be etc.
Even after following all the rules, some doshas might creep in. Hence Indians always put godhrutam (cow ghee) in the food before eating, considering the food as havis, the person who eats as havirbhokta and the the act of eating as a yagnyam!
Ukdanda gets angry on Paushya for offering uncleaned food. Since he knows all shaastras, he knows that neither the cook nor the person who served nor the head of the bhojanashaala must be blamed, it is the ajamaani who gave aatithyam, the King, who needs to be blamed for this (see this story).
He, in the anger, says to Paushya “Since you gave me such food, may you become blind”. Knowing that Udanka gave him such a big punishment for a small mistake, Paushya says to Udanka “May you have no children”.
Since both Udanka and Paushya never deviated from the path of Truth, whatever they said now, in anger, became really true!
The nature of a sajjana is that, he will never become angry and if he becomes angry, his anger will be like the spill of boiling milk, just for a fraction of a second. Immediately Paushya and Udanka realize their mistake and Paushya asks Udanka to save him from blindness.
Udanka, with his tapas-shakti, told Paushya that he will be blind for a very short time. However Paushya could not give a shaapaavasaanam to Udanka. Paushya says “O great scholar!
Since you are a sage and have immense tapas-shakti you were able to help me, but I cannot do it and my words cannot be changed, because of my satya-vaak-paripaalana”.
Udanka then takes leave of Paushya and immediately resumes the work given by his Guru-patni.
Will Udanka be able to take the kundalas safely to his guru-patni? Wont Takshaka cause any trouble? Please keep reading to know the answers :) .
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“Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.”
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