Oct 24, 2005

Q & A : The Yaksha and Yudhishtira

The Yaksha: "What rescues man in danger?"

Yudhishthira: "Courage is man's salvation in danger."

The Yaksha: "What is higher than the sky?"

Yudhishthira: "The father."

The Yaksha: "What is fleeter than wind?"

Yudhishthira: "Mind."

The Yaksha: "What is more blighted than withered straw?"

Yudhishthira: "A sorrow-stricken heart."

The Yaksha: "What befriends a traveller?"

Yudhishthira: "Learning."

The Yaksha: "Who accompanies a man in death?"

Yudhishthira: "Dharma. That alone accompanies the soul in its solitary journey after death."

The Yaksha: "What is happiness?"

Yudhishthira: "Happiness is the result of good conduct."

The Yaksha: "What is that, abandoning which man becomes loved by all?"

Yudhishthira: "Pride, for abandoning that man will be loved by all."

The Yaksha: "What is the loss which yields joy and not sorrow?"

Yudhishthira: "Anger, giving it up, we will no longer subject to sorrow."

The Yaksha: "What is that, by giving up which, man becomes rich?"

Yudhishthira: "Desire, getting rid of it, man becomes wealthy."

The Yaksha: "What is the greatest wonder in the world?"

Yudhishthira replied: "Every day, men see creatures depart to Yama's abode and yet, those who remain seek to live forever. This verily is the greatest wonder."

having answered the questions correctly, King Yudhishtira claims back his dead brothers.
C Rajagopalachari's excellent translation can be found here.

(am currently halfway through this book. its a must read for anyone with a fascination for stories)

1 comment:

Pramod Viswanath said...

good Post buddy. I really liked it a lot. Truely a revelation!