Yaksha Prashnam – Sri Mahabharath
Chapter – 3 – The conversation between Yaksha and Yudhishtira 18 – 33
Yashka speaks “Oh! Rajan, wish you all the auspiciousness! I am a Yaksha, I am not a pelican living in this pond, I have killed your mighty brothers.”
Sage Vaishampayana speaks “ Oh! Rajan,
Yudhishtira approached the Yaksha who uttered extremely humiliating and harsh
words. Bharathakula Yudhishtira saw the mighty Yaksha who had the dreadful
appearance, crooked eyes, colossal body, had the stature of a palm tree, radiant
like Surya and Agni, unconquerable, had the size of the mountain, seated on
the huge tree and his speeches resemble lightning was reverberating in
the entire wood.”
Yaksha spoke “Oh! Rajan, your brother’s
were not willing to follow my orders, I have repeatedly asked to keep
themselves away from their venture, and they did not stop. I have the same
thing to ask you, if you love your life, do not drink this water. Oh! Partha,
do not exhibit your valor here, it is the pond owned by my clan. You can answer
all my queries and quench your thirst or carry the water with you.”
Yudhishtira spoke “Oh! Yaksha, I am not
interested in the property owned by yourself and your clan, and the Sajjanas do
not engage in self-praising and do not show interest in other’s property, therefore I
will not take pride in my knowledge, I shall answer all your queries as per my
knowledge, therefore you can ask questions to me.”
Q-1) Yaksha asks“Who causes sunrise/ Lord
Aditya? Who travels with him? Who causes the sunset? And what’s the base of
Aditya?”
Yudhishtira speaks “The supreme Bhramam
is the cause for the sunrise. The deities are the companions of Aditya. The
Dharma causes for the sunset, and the existence of Aditya is on the base of ‘Truth’.
Q-2) Yaksha asks “How did the Jeeva achieve admiration and honor? How did the Jeeva achieve prominence in society? How did the Jeeva remain promising and magnanimous? How did the Jeeva achieve supreme intellect?
Yudhishtira speaks “The ‘Vedadhyayana’/practice
of Veda and Vedanta, makes a Jeeva respectable in the society. The Jeeva
achieves greatness in the life with the ‘Tapasya’/austerities and vow, the
Jeeva becomes promising and magnanimous with its intellect and the service to the
elderly enhances the intellect of the Jeeva.
Q-3) Yaksha asks “What’s the divinity in
the Bhramin/twice-born? What are the righteous deeds of the twice-born to
follow as a Sajjana? What are the basic qualities required as an ordinary
person for a Bhramin? What’s the nature of the Bhramin as a Dhurjjana?”
Yudhishtira speaks “ Swadhyaya/the learning of Veda, Vedanta, and scriptures and imparts knowledge in it is the divinity of a Bahrain. Tapasya/performance of strict austerities and vow are the pre-requisites as Sajjana in the Bhramin. The wicked acts by words, deeds, and minds are the predominating nature of Dhurjjana and the wicked Bhramin as well.
Q-4)Yaksha speaks “ What are the qualities
required for a Kshatriya? What are the divinities in them? What are the qualities
required as an ordinary person in a Kshatriya? What are the wicked natures
visible as a Dhurjjana in them?”
Yudhishtira speaks “The divinities in a
Kshatriya is their bow and arrows/to fight against enemies and reinstate the
law. The performance of Yajja/fire sacrifices and protect the Vipra, Go, noble
souls, and the performance of sacrifices and rite for the welfare of the Universe
and its living beings. As ordinary
people, the Kshatriyas also undergo extreme anxieties and fears/threats from
neighboring countries and enemies/ while ensuring the welfare of the subjects of
the Kingdom. The wickedness of a Kshatriya is abandoning the people who have
taken shelter in them.”
Yaksha Uvacha –
Yashoahamasmi Bhadhram The Na Asmi Pakshi Jalechara: | Mayaithe Nihatha:
Sarve Bhratharasthe Mahaujasa: ||
Vaishampayana Uvacha –
Thathasthamiva Shivam Shruthva Vacham
Sa Parushaksharam | Yakshasya Bhruvatho Rajan Upakramya Thadha Sthitha:
||
Viroopaksham Mahakayam Yaksham
Thalasamushchrayam | Jwalanarkka Pratheekashamadhrishyam Parvathopamam ||
Sethumashrithya Thishtantham Dhadharsha Bharatharshabha: | Megha Gambheeraya Vacha Tharjjayantham Mahabalam ||
Yaksha Uvacha –
Imethe Bhratharo Rajan
Varyamana Maya Sakrith | Balaththoyam Jiheershanthasthatho Vai Sudhiya Maya ||
Na Peyamudhakam Rajan Prananiha Pareepsatha | Parththa Ma Sahasam
Karsheermama Poorvaparigaha: | Prashnanukthva
Thu Kauntheya Thatha; Piba
Harasva Cha ||
Yudhishtira Uvacha –
Naivaham Kamaye Yaksha
Thava Poorvaparigraham | Kamam
Naithath Prashamsanthi Santho Hi Purusha; Sadha ||
Yadhathmana Swamathmanam Prashamseth
Purusha: Prabho | Yadhaprajjam Thu The
Prashnan Prathivakshyami Priccha Mam ||
Yaksha Uvacha –
Kim Svidhadhithyamunnayathi Ke Cha Thasyabhithashchara: | Kashchainamastham
Nayathi Kasmishcha Prathi Thishtathi ||
Yudhishtira Uvacha –
Bhramadhithyam Unnayathi
Devasthasyabhithashchara: |Dharmashchastham Nayathi Cha Sathye Cha Prathi Thishtathi ||
Yaksha Uvacha –
Kenasvischrothriyo Bhavathi
Kenasvidhvindhathe Mahath | Kenasvidhvidheeyavan Vathi Rajan Kena cha Budhdhiman ||
Yudhishtira Uvacha –
Shruthena Shrothriyo Bhavathi Thapasa
Vindhathe Mahath | Dhrithya
Dhvitheeyavan Bhavathi Budhdhiman Vridhdhasevaya ||
Yaksha Uvacha –
Kim Bhramananam Devathvam Kashcha
Dharmma: Sathamiva | Kashchaisham Manusho Bhava: Kimeshamasathamiva ||
Yudhishtira Uvacha –
Swadhyaya Yesham Devathvam Thapa Yesham
Sathamiva | Maranam Manusho Bhava: Parivadhoasthamiva ||
Yaksha Uvacha –
Kim Kshathriyanam Devathvam Kashcha
Dharma: Sathamiva | Kashchaisham Manusho Bhava: Kimeshamasathamiva ||
Yudhishtira Uvacha –
Ishvasthramesham Devathvam Yajja Yesham
Sathamiva | Bhayam Vai Manusho Bhava:
Parithyagoasathamiva ||
