Yudhistira and the Yaksha

[Guest guest]

Thank you Sri Ramji. Will

pass this on to HS where the question arose. It is good to know that we

can always find the information about purnas and scriptures we need on

the Advaitin list.

Love to all

Harsha

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Re: Yudhishtira and Yaksha

 

Wed, 10 Sep 2003 15:40:43 -0000

 

Ram Chandran <rchandran (AT) cox (DOT) net>

 

advaitin

 

advaitin

Namaste Harshaji:

The episode of Yudhistira and Yaksha comes in Vana Parva of

Mahbharat. The entire Mahabharat and Ramayana are available at the

Website: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/#maha

But an excellent form of the story is reported at the Website Address

reported below. Since this story illustrates why Dharma is an

integral part of spiritual life, I have reproduced the story also

from the same site. This story also provides the clue why Yudhishtira

is also knowns as Dharmar!

regards,

Ram Chandran

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http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatlkings/yudhishtira/page15.ht

m

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Yudhishtira's Answers to Yaksha

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The Questions of Yaksha

A strange event happened while the Pandavas were residing in

Dwaithavana. One day a Brahmin visited the Pandavas. He told them

that his 'arani' sticks with which he used to produce fire for

his 'homas' (making offerings to the gods through the sacred fire)

had been carried away by a deer on its horns; and he requested them

to get back the firesticks for him.

Yudhishtira set out with his brothers in search of the deer. The

Pandavas soon came in sight of the animal; but it ran away fast as

the wind, and they could not catch it. All of them soon felt very

thirsty. At the suggestion of Dharmaraja, Nakula climbed a tree and

looked around for water. He caught sight of a lake nearby.

Yudhishtira sent Nakula to fetch some water. Nakula went to the lake,

and was about to drink a little water before taking some with him.

Suddenly he heard a voice addressing him thus: "0 Sir, this is my

lake. You shall not drink water without my permission. You may drink

after answering my questions." He looked all round and saw no one. He

was very thirsty. Without heeding the words he had heard, he drank

water; at once he fell down unconscious.

Yudhishtira sent his other brothers one after another, to look for

those who had not come back and to bring water; but the same fate

befell all of them.

At last, Dharmaraja himself hurried to the spot. He was taken aback

to see his brothers lying dead 'on the ground. There was no one

anywhere nearby! Nor was there any sign of wild animals! Dharmaraja

could not understand the cause of his brother's death. As he, too,

was fatigued with thirst, he also proceeded to drink water. And the

same voice from the skies spoke to him. Yudhishtira addressed the

voice: "Sir, who are you? You seem to be the cause of the death of my

brothers. Humbly I ask you, who are you?" The voice replied, "Yes, 1

killed your brothers. I am a Yaksha, the owner of this lake. They

drank water before answering my questions, and so they died. If you

want to drink water, answer my questions first." With these words the

Yaksha himself -appeared before him. "I shall answer your questions

as best I can," agreed Yudhishtira.

Yaksha: What equals the ocean? Who does well to the world? Who is the

mother of all human beings? What can compare with the brightness of

the Sun?

Yudhishtira: The sky equals the ocean. Devendra is the benefactor of

the world. The cow is the mother of all human beings. Only Truth

equals the Sun in brightness.

Yaksha: Who can be considered a Shrotriya among Brahmins? Who is the

best among the Kshathriyas?

Yudhishtira: He who is learned in the Shruthi or the Vedas is a true

Brahmin. The best Kshathriya is one who can wield weapons and fight

without fear of death.

Yaksha: How can one earn money? Of all the riches which is the best?

What is true

wealth?

Yudhishtira: Money is to be earned by hard work. Learning is the best

of riches. Health

is wealth.

Yaksha: What is greater than the earth? What is higher than the

skies?

Yudhishtira: A mother is greater than the earth. A father is loftier

than the skies.

Yaksha: What is faster than the wind? What troubles a person always?

Yudhishtira: The mind is faster than the wind. Worry troubles a

person always.

Yaksha: Who is a great man?

Yudhishtira: One who practices nonviolence.

Yaksha: I am pleased with your answers. Which of your brothers do you

wish to come back to life?

Yudhishtira: Nakula.

As the dialogue continued, one by one Yudhishtira got all his

brothers back. "Why did you want your stepbrothers, Nakula and

Sahadeva, restored to life first, and not your own brothers, Bhima

and Arjuna?" - asked Yaksha. Yudhishtira replied, I do not make any

difference between my own brothers and my step-brothers." Then

Yamadharma, who had taken the form of a Yaksha, appeared in his own

person. He said, "Because you uphold Dharma victory will be yours."

With these words he blessed Yudhishtira and disappeared.

Afterwards, the Pandavas brought the arani sticks and gave them to

the Brahmin.

====================================================