The question-answer session between the Yaksha (a demigod) and Yudhisthira (the eldest of the Pandava brothers) is an interesting chapter of the Mahabharat. The Yaksha poses a number of wise questions before Yudhisthira and the latter answers them even more wisely. One of these puzzling questions was: ‘Kah Panthah’, i.e. which is the way? Roughly translated, the answer of Yudhisthira was to the effect that the only ‘way’ is to walk in the footsteps of great men.
But are the 'great men' so infallible and free from errors that their life and conduct can be an absolute model for our children and youth? There cannot be a single 'great man' who could claim to be an 'ideal person' to flawlessly guide the character and conduct of a child, because all human beings are prone to error. However, in the course of millions of years of life of this planet, there also have been 'greater' men who were chosen by God as His Messengers and were sent on this earth to teach mankind absolute knowledge. As They were godly figures, They were free from human imperfections and the examples They set are surely the best ones to be followed.
When the ships sail on the endless sea and come near a harbour or a bay, a lighthouse standing tall on a rock, guides them to ward off dangers and move in the right direction. All the Prophets and Messengers of God who appeared on this planet from time to time, from place to place, were—and still are—like the Light Houses of true knowledge and true conduct to show us the way which we can safely walk. The purpose of this book is to relate some popular stories reflecting the greatness of some of these Prophets which may inspire our children and youth.
At this juncture of time when moral chaos in the larger society, growing influences of media and wayward materialistic approach of even most of the renowned and celebrated figures of society are driving our children to misguided directions, this book of stories from lives of some of the Prophets will lead them to the right way—with this hope I dedicate this book to each parent and teacher. In an age when religious intolerance is increasing day by day, I also hope that when young readers will read these stories, they will conclude that all the Prophets were great and, so, all the religions They founded must also be equally great.
