The Yaksha’s Boon

The third boon

The Pandavas who had lost their kingdom in a game of dice had committed to spending twelve years in the forest and the thirteenth year in disguise. The Kauravas had laid an additional condition that should even one of them (the Pandavas and Droupadi) be recognised before the thirteenth year ended, they would have to return to the forest for another twelve years.

Yama offered a third boon to the Pandavas. He told them that none of them would be recognised in the thirteenth year, in whatever disguise they chose. Why, they would go unrecognised even if the remained as they were, he said. To grant them this boon, did Yama script the whole drama of the ‘Yaksha Prashne’.

Kingdom of Matsya

Matsya was a kingdom ruled by the king Virata, and was famed for its chief wealth, its cattle.

Yama through his questions on a variety of topics had prepared the grounds for Yudhishtira to assume the role of Kanaka, a Brahmin courtier, who would play dice with the king of Matsya, and become his favourite companion/advisor.

Assured by Yama of remaining unrecognisable, each of the others chose a new name and a new role. Bheemasena, fond of cooking, became a cook by name Ballava. Arjuna, cursed by the apsara Uravashi to become a eunuch for a year, utilised the curse as a boon. He called himself Brihannala and became a dance teacher to the princess Uttara.

Nakula became a keeper of horses and called himself Damagranthi. Sahadeva, calling himself Tantipala, was in charge of the cows, which the Matsya kingdom was famed for. Sairandhari, which became Droupadi’s name, sought employment as a companion to the queen, Sudeshana.

And true to Yama’s boon, the five Pandavas and their queen remained undiscovered till the end of the thirteenth year, despite Duryodhana’s best efforts at uncovering their disguise through his spies.

During this period spent incognito, the Pandavas are said to have hidden their weapons on tree tops, shrouded to appear like dead bodies.