Wednesday, July 3, 2013

YAKSHA PRASHNA-the quintessential answers(Part III)

This is in continuation to my last blog on the conversation between Yaksha and Yudhisthira.

Yaksha        : What is heavier than the Earth? What is higher than Mountains? What is faster than Wind? What is more numerous than Grasses?
Yudhisthira : Mother is heavier than the Earth. Father is higher than Mountains. Mind is faster than Wind. Worries are more numerous than Grasses.
These answers by far touch my heart most and are way beyond explanation as they contain a world full of knowledge in them.

Yaksha        : Who is the friend of a traveler? Who is the friend of the one that is ill? Who is the friend of the one dying? 
Yudhisthira : Friend of a traveler is his companion. Friend of the ill is his doctor. Friend of a dying person is charity.
Friendship comes with a sense of belonging and trust. At every stage in life, under various circumstances, we meet different kinds of people, learn from them and share a give-take relationship with them. It is imperative to notice that the friends mentioned in the answers above last for as long as a phase ends and that nothing in life is permanent. 
Impermanence - Journey and the companion of a traveler. Yet there is a sense of belonging as both may be heading to the same destination and one is of help to the other. 
Trust - Unless a patient trusts his doctor, it is unlikely that he may feel relieved of an illness. It is equally important for one to feel fit psychologically as it is to feel physically.
Fame - It is always said that a person is remembered for his deeds- good or bad. Charity is a deed that catapults a person to a great order of love and respect among men. Achievement comes when a person is able to give up that which he has craved for most in life. 

Yaksha       : What is that, when renounced, makes one lovable? By renouncing what, does one become happy? Who is truly happy? What causes an incurable disease?
Yudhisthira : By renouncing pride, one becomes lovable. By renouncing desire, one becomes happy. The one that has no debts is truly happy. Avarice constitutes to an incurable disease. 
Irrespective of the era we live in, these facts would never change. The little lessons mentioned are as difficult to put into practice as obvious they seem.It has been asserted in texts of various religions including the Gita that desires give rise to expectations and subsequently disappointments in life. The more we get, the more we want! Contentment is a far-fetched attribute among men. It is not bad to be ambitious, but greed and covetousness certainly is. Above all, they never let a person live in peace.


Yaksha        : What is the greatest wonder? What is the path? What is the news?
Yudhisthira : Day after day, countless men die; still the living desire to live forever. People live as if they are never going to die! That is the greatest wonder. Not one Rishi's words are acknowledged by all and each differ in their perspective. Hence, the truth about self and Dharma lies deep inside the caves of one's heart. This is the path! The world we live in, replete with ignorance is like a pan; the Sun is the fire; days and nights are the fuel; months and seasons the wooden ladle; time is the cook that is cooking all of the creatures. This is the news!



The Yaksha then asked Yudhisthira to choose ONE of his brothers whom he would want to see get back to life; Yudhisthira chose Nakula. He asserted that Madri was like Kunti to him and that atleast one son of each mother must be alive; this would do justice to both mothers. Despite the fact that his victory in the war with Kauravas depended on Bhima and Arjuna's prowess, the Emperor chose his younger brother Nakula over them. The Yaksha was so moved by Yudhisthira’s sense of righteousness and objectivity that he brought all his brothers back to life.  Yudhisthira was assured that benevolence of this extent and life-giving powers were not a Yaksha’s prerogative. It was then that Dharmaraaj appeared in His true form in front of the brothers and benedicted the Emperor with righteousness and fame for as long as he lived and beyond. He then returned the wooden sticks and paraphernalia of the Brahmin and confirmed that it was Him that disguised as a deer to test the Emperor.

No comments:

Post a Comment