The Moral Choice
The Yaksha’s first boon
An immensely pleased Yaksha said, “You have well and truly answered all my questions. I will grant life to one among your brothers. Choose the one you want to live.”
Without hesitation, Yudhishtira made his choice. He asked the Yaksha to bring Nakula to life.
The Yaksha expressed astonishment, “Why have you chosen your step-brother, O Yudhishtira?” He continued, “Bheema is extremely dear to you. The brave Bheema or valiant Arjuna, your own brothers, who will help you win your kingdom back from your cousins... why did you not choose them? What is the reason for your strange choice?”
Yudhistira replied, “I have made the choice as a virtuous king should. My father Pandu had two wives. While we three...Bheema, Arjuna and I were born of Kunti, Nakula and Sahadeva, were sons of Madri. If I, son of Kunti live, it is only fair that one of Madri’s lives too. I wish to be fair to both my mothers. Hence I choose Nakula.”
A thoroughly impressed Yaksha, granted lives to all the four brothers, who woke up as if from sleep, no longer hungry or thirsty.
The Yaksha’s Truth
Yudhishtira addressed the bird and said, no bird or Yaksha could have put down my brothers whose strength is as immense as mountains, each of whom can fight off tens of thousands of warriors. And who could grant them their lives back?
Are you a Vasu or a Rudra? Are you the king of Devas or the chief of Maruts? Are you on our side? Who are you?
Are you our father, Pandu? At this point the Yaksha answered, “I am your father, O Yudhishtira. I am Yama, the God of Justice and the God of Death. I have come to test your merit and your virtue, and delight myself by your wisdom and your righteousness. I have also come to bless you!”
And he revealed his true form. An overwhelmed Yudhishtira paid his respects to his father, whom he had never seen before.
The Yaksha offered to grant another boon. Yudhishtira related the story of the brahmin’s kindling sticks having been taken away by a deer which also lured them to that unfamiliar part of the forest.
The Yaksha confessed that it was he who had assumed the form of a deer to ‘steal’ the kindling sticks, in order to enact the entire play!
Then he handed over the kindling sticks to the Pandavas, so that they could keep the word they had given to the brahmin.
To be continued...