yaksha prashna : Dharmaraja's answers

In Mahabharata, end of Aranyaparva, a dialogue happens between a righteous crane and Yudhishtir (Dharmaraja). This is named as 'Baka-Yudhisthir-samvad' and spells out Truth understandable by layman and easily followable. Below is the story and the question answers.


an agnihotra brahmin approaches Pandavas asking for help in arresting a deer that ran away with his samidhas, which got stuck in its horns. Pandavas being kshatriyas, who vowed to help and protect anybody who approached them for help, chased the deer. They were unsuccessful in catching the deer. They went deep into the forest and were tired, exhausted and thirsty. Yudhistir orders his younger brother Sahadeva to go search for water and bring back water for all of them. Sahadeva reaches a clear lake and was about to quench his thirst when he hears a warning, 'this lake belongs to me, you will die if you drink this water without answering my questions'. Sahadeva disregards this warning and quenches his thirst. Immediately he dies. Similar fate falls on next brothers Nakula, and Arjuna, and Bhima. Finally Yudhishtir the king himself goes in search of his brothers. He finds to his dismay that his brothers have died and lying on ground. He wanted to do last rites to his brothers with water oblation, and approached the lake, He hears the warning 'This is my lake and if you drink this water without answering my questions, you will die'. Yudhistir hears intently and finds that these words are spoken by a Crane. He replies, 'I have no intention of taking what belongs to others, but I will answer your questions to the best of my ability, but I pray you to show me your true form, as you cannot be a normal bird who can kill my brothers who are known for their valor'. On hearing this Crane shows his form as a Yaksha with grotesque eyes burning like sun, body tall like a palm tree.

The following are the questions posed by Yaksha and answers by Yudhistir. I will not comment on what I understood on most of the questions but on a few.



First 4 questions :

What is weightier than earth? Mother

What is taller than the sky? Father

What is faster than the wind? Mind

What is more numerous than grass? Thoughts



My meaning :

a) Mother (Natural mother, Prakriti, Shakti) are higher than earthly pleasures. As Lord SriRam said 'Janani Janma Bhoomischa, swargadapi gariyasi'.

b) Father shiva is taller than sky. Sky being in mind, and Shiva being witness to mind.

c) Mind is obviously faster than anything.

d) Thoughts are numerous in nature, uncountable like grass or waves in a ocean.



Second 4 questions :

Who is the friend of a traveller? A companion

Who is the friend of a householder? A spouse

Who is the friend of the sick? A doctor

Who is the friend of the dying? His charity



Third 4 questions :

By renouncing what does one become loved? Pride

By renouncing what is one free of sorrow? Anger

By renouncing what does one become wealthy? Desire

By renouncing what does one become happy? Greed



My meaning :

If we leave Pride, Anger, Desire, Greed aside we will be loved, free of sorrow, prosperous and be happy. This gives the cure for the condition that was explained in Gita sloka 'From unfulfilled desire gives rise to Anger, from anger delusion and subsequently fall of man'
This answer tells us what to drop off.



Fourth 4 questions :

What treasure is the best? Skill

What wealth is the best? Education

What is the greatest gain? Health

And the greatest happiness? Contentment



My meaning :

a) The skill here is 'Skill in karma'

b) Education and wisdom of Shruthi is meant here

c) Arogyam is the greatest gain : Not just bodily health, but also health of mind and soul.

d) Contentment (Trupti) gives bliss. I remember a telugu couplet that goes like this 'Trupti chendani manujudu sapta dveepambulaina chakkam badune' meaning 'A person without contentment will not be satisfied even if you give him sapta dveepa(master over seven chakras)'





Fifth 4 questions :

What is a man's self? His progeny
Who is his God-given friend? His wife
What supports his life? Rain
What is his principal duty? Charity


My meaning :
a) Progeny is a mirror image of self
b) Spouse is required for doing Yajna
c) Rain happens because of Yajna, and Yajna happens because of karma. hence in saying that Rain is the support of life Yudhistir says 'Karma is the support of life'
d) Charity means Yajna


Sixth question :

Is there a person who enjoys all pleasures of the senses, who is intelligent, is respected by all creatures and worshipped by the world, who breathes and yet is not alive?
Answer : The person who fails to satisfy Gods, guests, servants, pitrs and his Atman, may breathe but is not alive.



Seventh 4 questions :
What makes the sun rise? Brahma
Who moves around him? Gods
What causes the sun to set? Dharma
How is he held firm? Truth

My meaning :
a) The external world is a projection of mind of Brahman. It is illuminated by Sun.
b) All the Gods are created by Brahma and they are dependent on the illuminator Surya
c) Omkara has three padas, srishti, stithi, laya. It is the nature of all creation to go through these cycles, hence the setting of Sun follows the Dharma of laya into Brahman.
d) The dissolved Sun is based on Truth (Satya), from which it will come forth again.