EPISODES FROM MAHABHARATA - YAKSHA PRASHNA - I
EPISODES FROM MAHABHARATA
YAKSHA PRASHNA - I
The episode known as “Yaksha Prashna” in Mahabharata relates to the exchange of questions and answers between Yama in the guise of a Yaksha who poses 126 difficult questions to Yudhishthira who gives the most fitting answers to those questions. The background to this episode is something like this. One day during their incognito vanavasa, Yudhishthira felt very thirsty and there was no water in sight to quench his thirst. Sahadeva, the youngest of the Pandavas climbed up a tree and spotted a lake at a distance. When he reached the lake to bring water for Yudhushthira, he heard a voice which said “Beware! don’t touch the water before you answer my questions”. Without heeding the warning Sahadeva started collecting water from the lake. No sooner had he touched the water than he fell down dead on the shore of the lake. Seeing Sahadeva not returning, Nakula went after him. He too met the same fate as also his elder brothers Arjuna and Bhima. Finally Yudhishthira went to the lake and he was shocked by seeing all his brothers dead. The Yaksha revealed to him his terrible form and warned him that he should answer his questions before helping himself to the water in the lake. Yudhishthira gave him fitting replies and Yaksha was pleased. Then Yaksha said that he would bring back to life one of his brothers. Yudhisshthira wanted Nakula to be brought back to life. The Yaksha asked him why he was asking Nakula, the son of Madri, to be brought to life instead of Bhima or Arjuna who were his own brothers being Kunti’s children. Yudhisshthira replied that he had two mothers Kunti and Madri, both being wives of his father. He, Kunti Devi’s son, was alive. Therefore it was only just and equitable that Nakula, the eldest son of Madri should also be alive. Yaksha who was none other than Yama, the god of death, was very pleased by Yudhishthira’s reply and brought back to life all the brothers of Yudhishthira.
Given below are the Yaksha’s questions with Yudhishthira’s answers from the
great epic of Mahabharata with a simple translation in English.
great epic of Mahabharata with a simple translation in English.
यक्षः किंस्विदादित्यमुन्नयति के च तस्याभितश्चराः।
कश्चैनमस्तं नयति कस्मिंश्च प्रतितिष्ठति ॥26||
Who makes the Sun rise? Who travel with him? Who leads him to
to set? In whom is he firmly anchored?
युधिष्ठिरः ब्रह्मादित्यमुन्नयति देवास्तस्याभितश्चराः।
धर्मश्चास्तं नयति च सत्ये च प्रतितिष्ठति॥27||
It is Brahman which makes the Sun rise. Devas travel with him.
Dharma leads him to set and he is firmly anchored in Truth.
यक्षः केनस्विच्छ्रोत्रियो भवति केनस्विद्विन्दते महत्।
केनस्विद्द्वितीयवान् भवति राजन् केन च बुद्धिमान् ॥28||
How does one become a srotriya (one well-versed in vedic lore)? How does one attain greatness? By what means one gets help? O King! By what means one becomes intelligent?
युधिष्ठिरः श्रुतेन श्रोत्रियो भवति तपसा विन्दते महत् ।
धृत्या द्वितीयवान् भवति बुद्धिमान् वृद्धसेवया ॥29||
One becomes a srotriya by the study of the Vedas, achieves greatness by penance (tapas), gets help from his own intelligence and becomes intelligent by serving elderly men (of wisdom)
यक्षः किं ब्राह्मणानां देवत्वं कश्च धर्मः सतामिव।
कश्चैषां मानुषो भावः किमेषामसतामिव ॥30||
What is the divinity in brahmanas? What is the dharma of good people
which they follow? What is the humanly trait in them? What is it in
them which is like that of the bad people?
युधिष्ठिरः स्वाध्याय एषां देवत्वं तप एषां सतामिव।
मरणं मानुषो भावः परिवादोऽसतामिव ॥31||
Swadhyaaya (study of Vedic lore) is the divinity in Brahmanas. Penance (tapas) is the good trait in them and human-like trait is death. Denigrating others is a trait like that of bad people.
यक्षः किं क्षत्रियाणां देवत्वं कश्च धर्मः सतामिव।
कश्चैषां मानुषो भावः किमेषामसतामिव ॥32||
What is the divinity in Kshatriyas? What is the dharma of good people
which they follow? What is the human-like trait in them? What is it in them which is like that of the bad people?
युधिष्ठिरः इष्वस्त्रमेषां देवत्वं यज्ञ एषां सतामिव ।
भयं वै मानुषो भावः परित्यागोऽसतामिव ॥33||
Bow and arrows is the divinity in Kshatriyas. Sacrificial rites are like
that of good people. Human-like trait in them is fear. Abandoning one
(who takes refuge) is like the trait of bad people.
यक्षः किमेकं यज्ञियं साम किमेकं यज्ञियं यजुः।
का चैषां वृणुते यज्ञं कां यज्ञो नातिवर्तते ॥34||
What is Sama in a sacrifice? What is Yajus in a sacrifice? What does
the sacrifice invoke? What is it that it does not transgress?
युधिष्ठिरः प्राणो वै यज्ञियं साम मनो वै यज्ञियं यजुः।
ऋगेका वृणुते यज्ञं तां यज्ञो नातिवर्तते ॥35||
Prana is the sama in a sacrifice. Mind is the Yajus in it. It is Rik which the sacrifice invokes and it is also Rik which it (sacrifice) does not transgress.
यक्षः किंस्विदापततां श्रेष्ठं किंस्विन्निपततां वरं।
किंस्विद्प्रतिष्ठमानानां किंस्वित्प्रसवतां वरम्॥३६||
What is the best thing for the tiller of the soil? What is the best thing for the one who sows? What is the best thing for those who want a stable life? What is the best thing for those who give birth?
युधिष्ठिरः वर्षमापततां श्रेष्ठं बीजं निपततां वरम्।
गावः प्रतिष्ठमानानां पुत्रः प्रसवतां वरः ॥३७॥
Rain is the best thing for the tiller. Seed is the best thing for those who sow. Cows are the best for those who want a stable life. A son is the best thing for those who give birth.
यक्षः इन्द्रियार्थाननुभवन् बुद्धिमांल्लोकपूजितः।
सम्मतः सर्वभूतानामुच्छ्वसन् को न जीवति ॥३८॥
He enjoys all sense objects, is intelligent, is honoured by people, is accepted by all and breaths like a normal human being. But he does not live (there is no life in him, he is as good as dead). Who is he?
युधिष्ठिरः देवतातिथिभृत्यानां पितॄणामात्मनश्च यः।
न निर्वपति पञ्चानामुच्छ्वसन्न स जीवति॥३९॥
One who does not offer nourishment (bali, food) to these five - the gods,
the guests, the servants, the forbears and the self - is as good as dead; he is a living dead person.
यक्षः किंस्विद्गुरुतरं भूमेः किंस्विदुच्चतरं च खात्।
किंस्विच्छीघ्रतरं वायोः किंस्विद्बहुतरी तृणात् ॥४०॥
What is weightier than the Earth? Which is taller than the sky? What
Is speedier than air? What is more abundant than grass?
युधिष्ठिरः माता गुरुतरा भूमेः खात् पितोच्चतरस्तथा।
मनः शीघ्रतरं वाताच्चिन्ता बहुतरी तृणात् ॥४१॥
Mother is weightier than Earth. Father is taller than the sky. Mind is speedier than air and worries are more abundant than grass.
यक्षः किंस्वित्सुप्तं न निमिषति किंस्विज्जातं न चोपति।
कस्यस्विद्धृदयं नास्ति कींस्विद्वेगेन वर्धते ॥४२॥
कस्यस्विद्धृदयं नास्ति कींस्विद्वेगेन वर्धते ॥४२॥
Which does not close the eyes while sleeping? What does not move
after being born? Which has no heart ? What grows (swells) very
quickly?
युधिष्ठिरः मत्स्यः सुप्तो न निमिषत्यण्डं जातं न चोपति।
अश्मनो हृदयं नास्ति नदी वेगेन वर्धते ॥४३॥
Fish does not close the eyes while sleeping. Egg does not move after being laid (before the chicks come out after it hatches). The stone has no heart. The river swells with speed.
यक्षः किंस्वित्प्रवसतो मित्रं किंस्विन्मित्रं गृहे सतः।
आतुरस्य च किं मित्रं किंस्विन्मित्रं मरिष्यतः ॥४४॥
Who is the friend of one away from home (travelling)? Who is the friend while staying at home? Who is the friend when one is sick? Who is the friend when one is dying?
युधिष्ठिरः सार्थः प्रवसतो मित्रं भार्या मित्रं गृहे सतः।
आतुरस्य भिषङ्मित्रं दानं मित्रं मरिष्यतः ॥४५॥
Companion(co-traveller) is the friend while travelling. Wife is the friend while at home. Physician is the friend when sick. Charity (Dana) is the friend of one on his death bed.
यक्षः कोऽतिथिस्सर्वभूतानां किंस्विद्धर्मं सनातनम्।
अमृतं किंस्विद्राजेन्द्र किंस्वित् सर्वमिदं जगत्॥४६॥
Who is the guest for all beings? Which is the ancient (or eternal)dharma? Which is nectar, O King? What pervades all this world?
युधिष्ठिरः अतिथिः सर्वभूतानामग्निः सोमो गवामृतं ।
सनातनोऽमृतो धर्मो वायुः सर्वमिदं जगत् ॥४७॥
Agni is the guest for all beings. That which leads to immortality is the ancient (eternal) dharma. Nectar is cow’s milk. The whole of this world is pervaded by air.
यक्षः किंस्विदेको विचरते जातः को जायते पुनः ।
किंस्विद्धिमस्य भैषज्यं किंस्विदावपनं महत् ॥४८॥
Who moves about alone? Who is born again after being born? What is the remedy for biting cold? Which is the greatest of fields (where corn grows)?
युधिष्ठिरः सूर्य एको विचरते चन्द्रमा जायते पुनः।
अग्निर्हिमस्य भैषज्यं भूमिरापवनं महत् ॥४९॥
The Sun moves on its path alone. The moon is born again after waning. Fire is the remedy for biting cold. The Earth is the greatest field.
यक्षः किंस्विदेकपदं धर्म्यं किंस्विदेकपदं यशः।
किंस्विदेकपदं स्वर्ग्यं किंस्विदेकपदं सुखम् ॥५०॥
Which is the one substratum for dharma? Which is the one substratum for fame? Which is the substratum for things leading to heaven? Which is substratum for happiness?
युधिष्ठिरः दाक्ष्यमेकपदं धर्म्यं दानमेकपदं यशः।
सत्यमेकपदं स्वर्ग्यं शीलमेकपदं सुखम् ॥५१॥
Generosity is the substratum for dharma. Charity (daana, gifting) is the substratum of fame. Truth is the substratum of all things which lead to heaven. Good conduct (Virtue) is the substratum of happiness.
यक्षः किंस्विदात्मा मनुष्यस्य किंस्विद्दैवकृतस्सखा ।
उपजीवनं किंस्विदस्य किंस्विदस्य परायणम् ॥५२॥
Which is the soul of man? Who is his God-given friend? What
is his means of livelihood? What is his ultimate refuge?
युधिष्ठिरः पुत्र आत्मा मनुष्यस्य भार्या दैवकृतः सखा।
उपजीवनं च पर्जन्यो दानमस्य परायणम् ॥५३॥
Son is the soul (atma) of man. Wife is the god-given friend. Clouds are the means of livelihood. Charity (dana, gifting) is his ultimate refuge.
यक्षः धन्यानामुत्तमं किंस्वित् धनानां स्यात् किमुत्तमम्।
लाभानामुत्तमं किं स्यात् सुखानां स्यात् किमुत्तमम् ॥५४॥
What is the best of all goodness? What is the best of all wealth? What is the best of all gains? What is the best of all happiness?
युधिष्ठिरः धन्यानामुत्तमं दाक्ष्यं धनानामुत्तमं श्रुतम्।
लाभानां श्रेय आरोग्यं सुखानां तुष्टिरुत्तमा॥५५॥
Generosity is the best of all goodness. Learning is the best of all
wealth. Health is the best of all gains and contentment is the best
of all happiness.
wealth. Health is the best of all gains and contentment is the best
of all happiness.
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