Yudhishtira’s Humility
The Yaksha’s Condition
Upon Yudhishtira agreeing to answer the Yaksha’s questions, the Yaksha laid an additional condition. He said, he will be pleased only with the ‘right’ answers and not just any answer.
The Right Answer
If this was the first test, Yudhishtira passed it wonderfully, by answering in all humility that he would answer every question to the best of his knowledge and ability.
The Yaksha was pleased.
And began to ask the questions…
The Yaksha’s Questions and Yudhishtira’s Answers…
“Who placed the sun in its place in the sky? Who revolves around the sun? Who sets the sun in the evening? How does the sun hold itself up?”
“The almighty God, the one who has created the sun has placed him in the sky, the very same Lord who is present within the sun as Surya-Naarayana. Devathes or celestial beings revolve around the supreme Lord and thereby the sun. Dharma* sets the sun. Sathya** holds up the sun in its place.”
*The sun never ‘sets’ actually, it remains in its place always. The person who has placed the sun in its place to give us our ‘day’ and sets the sun, to give us our ‘night’, has created these natural laws to bring about harmony on earth.
**Literally truth, but here it is another name for God.
“Who can be called a learned brahmin?” “The one who possesses knowledge of and understands the meaning of the Vedas.”
“Who is a true Brahmin?” “One who does not hanker after comforts and an easy life.”
“What makes a learned brahmin appear divine?”
“Continuous study, learning and awareness of the Vedas (which do not reveal themselves easily) is what makes one appear divine.”
“What makes the enlightened and the ignorant people, human?”
“Death is the greatest leveller. Neither the enlightened nor the ignorant can escape death.”
“What is the principal flaw of learned people?”
“Pride in one’s learning is the principal flaw.” “What is the principal flaw of a kshatriya?” “Fear of death that overpowers his bravery.”
“What is weightier than the earth itself? What is higher than the sky? What is faster than wind? What grows quicker than weeds?”
“Mothers bear the weight of their babies for nine months, even before the earth bore their weight. Hence mothers are considered weightier than the earth itself. Fathers are taller than the sky itself as they provide us the opportunity to grow just like the sky. Thoughts are faster than the wind. Worry grows unlimited, faster than weeds.”
“What does not close its eyes even when asleep? What does not move when born? What does not have a heart? What gains enormously and continuously in size and speed as it grows?”
“Fish… Egg… Stone…River…” were Yudhishtira’s prompt answers.
“Who roams alone forever?” “Who is born again and again (without dying)?” “What ensures survival in a glacier or in extreme cold?” “Which is the largest field in the world?”
The answers: “The sun, the moon, fire, the world itself!”
“Who is a good companion for a pilgrim (traveller), a householder, a dying person?”
“The group in which he travels, a wife, the good deeds performed in his life,” were Yudhishtira’s intelligent answers.
To be continued…