Yaksha Prashne (Questions) ?

One day a Brahmin visited the Pandavas. He told them that his 'arani' sticks with which he used to produce fire for his 'homas' had been carried away by a deer on its horns;

Yudhishtira set out with his brothers in search of the deer. All of them soon felt very thirsty. Yudhishtira sent Nakula to fetch some water. Nakula went to the lake, and was about to drink a little water before taking some with him. Suddenly he heard a voice addressing him thus: "0 Sir, this is my lake. You shall not drink water without my permission. You may drink after answering my questions." He looked all round and saw no one. He was very thirsty. Without heeding the words he had heard, he drank water; at once he fell down unconscious.

Yudhishtira sent his other brothers one after another, to look for those who had not come back and to bring water; but the same fate befell all of them.

At last, Yudhistara himself hurried to the spot. He was taken aback to see his brothers lying dead 'on the ground. There was no one anywhere nearby! Nor was there any sign of wild animals! Dharmaraja could not understand the cause of his brother's death. As he, too, was fatigued with thirst, he also proceeded to drink water. And the same voice from the skies spoke to him. The voice replied, "Yes, 1 killed your brothers. I am a Yaksha, the owner of this lake. They drank water before answering my questions, and so they died. If you want to drink water, answer my questions first." With these words the Yaksha himself -appeared before him. "I shall answer your questions as best I can," agreed Yudhishtira.

Yaksha: What equals the ocean?

Yudhishtira:The sky equals the ocean.

Yaksha: Who is the mother of all human beings?

Yudhishtira:The cow is the mother of all human beings.

Yaksha: What can compare with the brightness of the Sun?

Yudhishtira: Only Truth equals the Sun in brightness.

Yaksha: Who is the best among the Kshathriyas?

Yudhishtira:The best Kshathriya is one who can fight without fear of death.

Yaksha: Of all the riches which is the best? What is true wealth ?

Yudhishtira: Learning is the best of riches. Health is wealth.

(Health is wealth is a term we hear usually from english proverbs....my teacher thought me that this proverbial gems was writtem by some english poet....but it was already written 3500 years ago...in one of the greatest epics the man has ever seen....)

Yaksha: What is greater than the earth? What is higher than the skies?

Yudhishtira:A mother is greater than the earth. A father is loftier than the skies.

Yaksha: What is faster than the wind? What troubles a person always?

Yudhishtira:The mind is faster than the wind. Worry troubles a person always.

Anyway the message in this yaksha prashne is very crystal clear that ...to control and win in this world first you have to control and win yourself and all your emotions....respect everyone and love the nature.....you can conquer the world....

Have a good day,

Pavan