YAKSHA PRASHNA

(MAHABHARATHA – VANAPARVA)
– THE ESSENCE OF HUMAN VALUES

Pandavas are nearing the end of their twelve year exile and due to begin the
one year of undiscovered living. On day a worshiper came and requested for
Pandava’s help. He had lost his ARANI. ARANI consists of two wooden
pieces, a rod and bow, which produces fire in a churning action. He had
placed ARANI on a low branch of tree. The ARANI got entangled to the horns
of a passing Deer while it rubbed its body on the trunk of the tree. Struggled to
remove this burden, the animal shook its head which made the fire-sticks got
firmly wedged to its antlers and it ran way. The worshiper Brahmin could not
perform his rituals without Arani. As they believed it was their duty to protect
those who practice Dharma, Pandavas chased the animal in vain. They ran
and ran but the quest failed.

They all became tired, thirsty and frustrated. While the rested under the shade
of tree, Nakula climbed a nearby tree to locate source of water in the vicinity.
He heard the cries of water cranes nearby and on instructions from
Dharmaraja he left and located a beautiful clear lake surrounded by trees,
flowers and birds. As he descended to the water’s edge to scoop up some
refreshing water, a strong voice warned him not to drink or fetch, without
answering his questions. Nakula ignored, drank water and immediately fell
dead. When Nakula did not return, Dharmaraja suggested Sahadeva to go
and find what was delaying Nakula. Sahadeva arrived tot the spot, found
Nakula dead. He thought of quenching his thirst first. He heard the same
warning, ignored it, attempted to drink the water and fell dead. Arjuna and
Bhimasena too arrived and had the same fate.
Dharmaraja, clearly worried got up and went in search of them. He came to
the spot and saw all his four brothers dead lamented. He saw that there was
no sign of violence or weapons on their bodies. He also heard the warning of
the voice when he approached the edge of the water. The voice said ‘you shall
be the fifth victim if you do not answer my questions’. Dharmaraja asked ‘who
are you’. The voice replied: I am yaksha. I warned your brothers but they did
not listen. This pool belongs to me and unless you answer my questions you
shall not even touch this water.

Dharmaraja offered to answer the questions. Here are the questions which are
so powerful, subtle with deeper meaning of wisdom. It is more powerful than
those million dollar quiz contests. The questions and answers portray the
essence of teachings in Bhagavadgita.

What is weightier than earth? What is taller than the sky? What is faster than
the wind? What is more numerous than grass. Dharmaraja’s answers were
Mother, Father, Mind and Thoughts respectively. The other significant
questions and sublime answers are meaningful even today for us to make our
own path of righteousness and peace.

Questions from Yaksha and Answers from Dharmaraja

• How does man become great?

• Man becomes great by austerities.
• How does man become secure?
• Man becomes secure by courage.
• How does man becomes wise?
• He becomes wise by living with learned wise men.
• What wealth is the best for those who want to live stable lives?
• Growing cows is the best that gives stable wealth.
• Which does not close its eyes even while sleeping?
• Fish does not close its eyes while sleeping.
• What does not move even after birth?
• Eggs do not move even after birth.
• What does not have a heart?
• A stone does not have a heart.
• What grows further with speed?
• The river grows with speed.
• Who is the friend , for he goes abroad?
• Education is the only friend of people who grow abroad.
• Who keeps company to the one who stays in his house?
• Only his wife keeps company to such a person.
• Who is the friend for the sick person?
• Doctor is the friend of the sick person.
• Who is the friend of the one who is going to die?
• Charity is the only friend to such a person.
• Who is the welcome guest to all?
• Fire is the welcome guest to all.
• What is the good deed which is stable?
• That deed which leads to salvation is the stable good deed.
• Where does “just action” normally reside?
• “Just action” resides mainly in cleverness.
• Where does “fame” normally reside?
• “Fame” resides mainly in charity.
• Where does “heaven” normally reside?
• “Heaven” normally resides in truth.
• Where does “pleasure” normally reside?
• “Pleasure” normally resides in good conduct.
• Which is the best giver of wealth?
• “Tireless effort ” is the best giver of wealth.
• What is the best among things?
• The knowledge that we get from learned is the best thing.
• What is the best among “blessings”?
• “life without sickness” is the best among blessings.
• What is the best among ” pleasures”?
• “Contentment ” is the best among pleasures
• Which is the best among “just actions”?
• Non violence is the best among “just actions”.
• By controlling which, man will never be sad?
• By controlling the mind man will never become sad.
• Friendship with whom lasts for ever?
• Friendship with godly persons will last for ever.
• By leaving which, will man never become sad?
• By leaving anger man will never become sad.
• By leaving which will man become rich?
• By leaving out desires, man becomes rich.
• By leaving which , man will be able to lead a happy life?
• By leaving out miserliness , man would be able to lead a happy life.
• Why do friends go away?
• When they get nothing from you, they go away.
• What is food?
• Food is beings.
• What is poison?
• Begging from others is poison.
• What is the “best mercy”?
• Wishing for pleasures for all is the “best mercy”.
• What is righteousness?
• Having the same attitude towards everybody is righteousness.
• Who is the enemy who can be defeated by man?
• Anger is the enemy that cannot be defeated by man.
• Which is the disease that has no end?
• Avarice is the disease that has no end.
• Who is considered as a holy man?
• He who loves all and does good for all, is considered as a holy man.
• Who is considered as “not holy”?
 • He who does not have mercy is considered as “not holy.”
• Which is considered as insensibility?
• Not understanding Dharma(just action?) is considered as insensibility.
• What is courage?
• Controlling the five senses is “courage”.
• What is a good bath?
• Cleaning the mind of the accumulated dirt is the good bath.
• What is the best charity one can do?
• Saving life’s of others is the greatest charity one can do.
• Who is fit to be considered as a scholar?
• He who knows Dharma(just action) can be considered as a scholar.
• What is pride?
• Ignorance is pride.
• What is snobbishness?
• Telling others that “I am the only follower of Dharma” is snobbishness.
• What is considered as “fault finding, telling lies about others etc.”?
• Enjoying telling news about others is this bad character.
• What does one who tells sweet words get?
• He becomes friends for everybody.
• What does one who does planned actions get?
• He attains success.
• What does one who has many friends get?
• He lives happily.
• Who attains happiness?
• He who does not take loan, does not go to a foreign country for living and one
who can cook and eat atleast green leaves, is the one who attains happiness.
• What is surprise?
• The fact that people thinking themselves as stable and permanent, in spite of
seeing several deaths daily is surprising.
• What is the event that happens daily?
• The earth is a very big cooking vessel. Sky is the lid to this vessel. The cook
called Time puts all movable and immovable things in to this vessel. He takes
the firewood of night and day and lights them up with Sun. He stirs it with
ladles called seasons and months This happens daily.

All questions asked by the Yaksha were answered by Dharmaraja to the Yaksha’s
satisfaction. Then the Yaksha gave a boon to him. Dharmaraja wanted , Nakula to
be made alive. The surprised Yaksha asked him, “Oh king, why did you choose
Nakula, when you could have chosen Bheema and Arjuna. Dharma raja replied, “ I
am alive and so my mother Kunthi has one son. I wanted my other mother Maadri
also to have a son alive, “The Yaksha was very much pleased and gave life back to
all the Pandavas.

-Chandramowly