Mb056. The Question By Yaksha (Yakshaprasna) Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

Their exile, the twelfth year,
At last, it was drawing near.
A wooden fire starter,
It was taken by a deer.

So complained a Brahmin,
Pandavas, one by one,
Went after the deer,
But was found nowhere.

Tired they all became.
To help them none came.
To quench their thirst,
Nakula went to a lake first.

A voice from the top spoke,
"Take not water from the lake,
Until you answer my questions,
The lake is in my possession."

Nakula did not pay any heed,
He drank water and died.
One after another they came
They also died doing the same.

Yudhishthira became worried,
At once, to the lake he hurried.
How they died, he couldn't guess?
Things were in a total mess.

To drink water he went to the lake,
The same voice again it spoke.
The reason He then understood,
And to answer he readily stood.

The question and answer went.
It was like a commandment,
A code of conduct for everyone,
For all times, man or woman.

Qn: "Daily what makes the sun shine?

Ans: "The power of Brahman."

Qn: "What rescues man in danger? "

Ans: "Courage saves him from danger."

Qn: "What science makes a man wise? "

Ans: "Not by Sastra man becomes wise,
But the wise company makes him wise."

Qn: "Who's a living corpse? "

Ans: "A selfish glutton who eats
Not entertaining others."

Qn: "What source is more than earth? "

Ans: "Mother."

Qn: "What's higher than the sky? "

Ans: "The father."

Qn: "What's swifter than wind? "

Ans: "Mind."

Qn: "What's more affected than a straw? "

Ans: "Worry-worn heart."

Qn: "What befriends a traveler? "

Ans: "Learning."

Qn: "Who's the friend of one staying at home? "

Ans: "The wife."

Qn: "Who accompanies a man in death? "

Ans: "Dharma.Dharma alone"

Qn: "Which's the biggest vessel? "

Ans: "The earth is the greatest vessel."

Qn: "What's happiness? "

Ans: "Character is happiness"

Qn: "To be loved by all what man
In his life should abandon?

Ans: "Pride."

Qn: "What should be given
A joy to gain?

Ans: "Anger."

Qn: "Which's the supreme ideal? "

Ans: "Non-violence."

Qn: "A man becomes rich
By losing which? "

Ans: "Desire."

Qn: "How's the world sustained? "

Ans: "By good citizens."

Qn: "Who's a real Brahmin? "

Ans: "By birth or learning not,
But by character and conduct."

Qn: "What's the greatest wonder in the world? "

Ans: "Every day many dies.
Man sees with his eyes.
Forever to live, he desires,
Also to enjoy for years."

Likes this questions many,
Some appeared as funny,
His answers were crisp,
And to the point sharp.

These straight answers did please.
And Yaksha was willing to release,
One of his brothers by his choice.
Nakula's name, he instantly chose.

He replied why to Yaksha's question,
To mother Kunti, he was one son,
To mother Madri, he chose one,
This way he justified his selection.

Pleased with his impartial action,
The Yaksha gave life to everyone.
Deer and Yaksha both were one
Yama, his father tested his son.

Yama went to his abode then,
Wishing all successes to his son,
Arjuna returned with every weapon.
The rest welcomed his reunion.

This episode those who read,
They'll sure give up their greed,
And will turn a new leaf,
Be whomsoever in their life.