Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Yaksha Prashna

From episode 55 of Mahabharat by B.R. Chopra

Buffer up to 24:00 and watch till 30:00



Only in Hindi for now, so my apologies. Some of the questions are as follows:

Question No. 1:Yaksha questioned: Who makesthe sun to rise and ascend in the skies? Who moves around the Sun? Who makes the sun set in the horizons? What is the true nature of the Sun and where is the sun established?


Yudhisthira answered: Brahma makes the sun rise and ascend. The Gods perambulate about the Sun. The Dharm sets the Sun. Truth is the actual Sun and the Sun is established in truth only.


Question No. 2: How can one become a 'Shrotriya'? How can one attain greatness? What is man's second companion? How does one become become intelligent?


Yudhisthira replied: The study (Adhyana) of the Vedas makes one a 'Shrotriya'. One can achieve greatness by penance and perseverance. Patience is one's second companion. Service to old and wise men renders one intelligent.


Question No. 3: Yaksha enquired: What instills 'divinity' in Brahmins? What is the quality of virtuousity in a Brahmin? What is the humanlike quality of a Brahmin? What is the conduct akin to a non-virtuous person in a Brahmin?


Yudhisthira replied: The self-study (Swadhyana) of the Vedas is divinity in a Brahmin. Penance is the quality like a virtuous person in a Brahhmin. Death is human-like quality in a Brahmin. Criticising others is conduct in a Brahmin like a non-virtuous person.


Question No. 4: Yaksha asked: What instills 'divinity' in Kshatriyas? What is the quality of virtuousity in a Kshatriya? What is the humanlike quality of a Kshatriya? What is the conduct akin to a non-virtuous person in a Kshatriya?


Yudhisthira replied: The art of archery is the divinity in a Kshatriya. Oblation is Kshatriya's quality of virtuousity in Kshatriya. Fear is his humanly quality. Abandoning people are under protection of Kshatriya is his conduct like a non-virtuous person in Kshatriya.


Question No. 5 the Yaksha asked: What is that thing which is like a Mantra in the performance of oblations (Yajnya)? Who is the performer of rites and ceremonies during Yajnya? Who accepts the offerings and oblations of a Yajnya? What is that which even a Yajnya can not transgress?


Yudhisthira replied: 'Breath' is like a Mantra in the performance of rites. 'Mind' is the performer of all rites in the course of Yajnya. Only Shlokas of the Vedas rucha or the richa accept oblation. The Yajnya can not surpass nor transgress the richas.


Question No. 6 the Yaksha asked: What is the most wonderful thing?


Yudhisthir replied: The most amazing thing is that even though every day one sees countless living entities dying, he still acts and thinks as if he will live forever.


Although some of the questions are now obsolete, most of them are worth considering for spiritual enlightenment.

9 comments:

Dirt Digger said...

Thanks for posting the video as well.
This is one of my favorite tales in the Mahabharat.
One Q&A you missed here is,

Yaksha:What is the most wonderful thing?

Yudhisthira: The most amazing thing is that even though every day one sees countless living entities dying, he still acts and thinks as if he will live forever.

Karmasura said...

Made the correction..

It is an honour for me that you comment on my blogs..

Dirt Digger said...

Well I should comment more then. This is by far one of the more interesting blogs when it comes to philosophies and practical impacts.
Keep up the good work and i'll forward it to my friends as well.

Karmasura said...

Thanks for your support sir. Such feedback is much needed. No blog can perfect itself without that.

Unknown said...

I visited so many sites and finally found Yaksha Prashnas in this site. I appreciate the effort. i learnt that there were 8 questions but i find only 6 questions plus one additional question. I still wonder what is 8th question.

Avishek said...

I was searching for these questions and answers since several times, finally i found it. But i wish i could read it in hindi.

IThink said...

Although some of the questions are now obsolete.........such as?? what makes you think that?

Karmasura said...

@Ithink Question 1 for example, unless you find some implied meaning behind what they are trying to say, a metaphor behind the usage of "sun" in which case you are welcome to share the meaning with us.

Pawan Saraswat said...

@Karmasura :- Thanks to you for providing such a precious information on Yaksha-Prashna.

I found one link for this. I hope this will illustrate a lot to the readers.


http://www.periplusbooks.com/india_texts/yaksha/yp10.html