Life is a riddle
because it harbours unexpected twists and turns which leaves us all bewildered.
One such incident of a riddle is mentioned in Mahabharata.When the Pandavas
ended their twelve years of exile in the forest, and discussing about their
agnata vasa (incognito life) for one year. Yudhistira suddenly found himself
face to face with Yaksha and his questions when the pandavas wanted to help a
Brahmin. Thus started a riddle between Yudhistira and Yaksha.
When the Pandavas were
discussing about their incognito life there came a Brahmin running to them
seeking their help in securing back the wooden blocks to generate fire by
friction from a deer which took the brahmin’s wooden blocks and ran away. The
Pandavas agreed to help the Brahmin and went in quest of the mysterious deer.
They couldn’t see, let alone catch the mysterious deer and become exhausted and
thirsty. Nakula climbing a tree saw a pond full of water at a distance and he
set out to bring the water to his brothers. This paved the way for an
interesting and intriguing yaksha prashna.
When Nakula took water
into his palms from the pond, a mysterious voice was heard. “O.... Nakula the
water of this pond will turn into poison if you don’t give satisfactory answers
to my questions”. Nakula ignored this warning and drank the water and instantly
fell dead. Nakula’s twin Sahadeva went in search of his brother and was
similarly warned by the mysterious voice. Sahadeva too ignored the warning and
fell dead upon drinking the water. Arjuna and Bheema met the same fate. Finally
Yudhishtira himself came in search of his brothers and found all his brothers
dead.
Yaksha warned Yudhistira
too and Yudhishtira thought and asked the mysterious voice to ask questions.
Yaksha asked as many as eighteen questions. Yudhishtira answered all his
questions. Yaksha prashna had philosophical and metaphysical ramifications. To
quote one interesting question ‘What is the greatest wonder?’ For this question
yudishtira answered that ‘day after day countless people die. Yet the living,
wish to live forever. This is the greatest wonder’.
After Yudhishtira
answered all his questions satisfactorily, Yaksha revealed himself to Yudhishtira.
The mysterious voice (yaksha) was none other than Yama Dharma, Yudhishtira’s father. Then Yama
blessed him .All the dead brothers became alive. Yama assured Yudhishtira that
they would’nt be recognised during their incognito life.
Careful study of the
Yaksha Prashna and Yudhishtira’s answers would be of immense benefit to those
who long for knowledge and spirituality.
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