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YAKSHA PRASHNAM - SUMMARY
YAKSHA PRASHNAM SUMMARY
1. If one can perform duties in a selfless way in the given Varna and the Ashrama, he becomes pious.
2. The study of Srutis is very important as one comes to know about the dharma and the purpose of human life only through that.
3. Yudishtira answers 'steady intelligence is the helpful companion always' – steady is the important word here. Steady intelligence means the single pointed buddhi; the buddhi with the right discrimination and judgment. This intelligence can be acquired by serving the Guru (A man of wisdom). Gita says 'pariprashnena sevena' – by asking questions in line with the scriptures and by obeying the Guru the intelligence becomes steady.
4. AUSTERITIES help man to achieve the great.
· Renounce Pride
· Renounce Desire
· Renounce Wrath
· Renounce Avarice and
· Controlled mind
· Withdrawing from all unworthy acts
· Enduring enmity - We lead the life of no regrets.
5. NATURE OF MIND
· Fleeter than wind
· The thoughts that arise in the mind are innumerable than grass
6. Way to happiness:
· Contentment
· Good behavior
· Tranquility
· Simplicity
· Mercy
· Controlling the senses – which are inputs to the mind
7. Clean the mind from all impurities – true bath
8. Restraint of the mind – true restraint
9. Covetousness is the incurable disease; contentment is the only remedy.
10. CHARITY: One who does not share or offer anything to creatures around is considered to be dead.
11. The most valuable of all possessions is knowledge. To whom agreeable and disagreeable, weal and woe, past and future are the same is considered to be wealthy. He alone is knowledgeable
12. IGNORANCE:
· Not knowing one's duties
· Grief
· Believing themselves to be permanent, immortal
· Not valuing time, not using the time to attain the ultimate goal
Yudishtira touches the most valuable thought 'TIME'. This is the highlight of Yaksha Prashnam. People are dying everyday but we feel that death is not for us.
We have all desires except the Lord. Gondavalekar in his discourse says that we add only a pinch of salt to the roti flour for taste. If we add to the heap of salt little flour what will happen? The pinch of salt is nothing but the world. Our life is full of world of desires.
Time never waits for anyone. Parikshit was given 7 days to prepare himself for death. We don't know where we stand in the queue; when our life is going to be snatched away by the Kaala. Have we realized that? If we have realized how do we spend our time?
Watching IPL matches? 24/7 election news?
We are growing ignorance every moment attaching ourselves to innumerable things (my husband, my child, my house, my property, etc.)
The ultimate of attending satsangh, reading scriptures should lead us to a question "WHO AM I?" Where am I going in my life?
The question makes us see life differently. The question makes us live a life of a human.
If it has not led to that question like taking coffee or tea, the spirituality is also an addiction only.
If we understand the uncertainty of life and we have very little time to do our prime duty of human birth (to go back to the source), the practice follows here and now.
If we meditate on Yudishtira's answers, we understand that he has underlined knowledge as the ultimate end and all the austerities are the means to that end. Without practicing these austerities knowledge cannot dawn. In fact, means itself is the end.
Yoga Vasishta says beautifully that the hallmark of a liberated person is that he internally renounces everything thoroughly and externally accepts everything that comes in the natural way.
HARI OM!
PART 21 - YAKSHA PRASHNAM SATSANGH
PART 21 – YAKSHA PRASHNAM SATSANGH
Namaskar Mahatmas!
This week we are in the concluding part of Yaksha Prashnam. The humbleness of Yudishtira is very well shown in this part.
After listening to all the answers of Yudishtira, the Yaksha said: "I am immensely pleased with your answers. You are the wisest and the most righteous person in this world. I now grant you a boon. I will grant the life of one of your brothers. You are at liberty to choose".
Yudishtira said: "Please Lord, let this dark, young, handsome brother of mine, Nakula, come back to life".
The Yaksha was amazed at Yudishtira's choice. "I am surprised at you. I know both Bheema and Arjuna are dear to you. Why did you not choose either Bheema or Arjuna? Bheema would have killed all the sons of Dhrithrashtra. Arjuna is one person on whom you are depending for your victory. Why did your choice fall on Nakula?"
Yudishtira replied: "My father had two wives, Kuntidevi and Maadridevi. I want both their children to live. I am the son of Kunti and Nakula is the son of Maadri. I love both my mothers equally. I cannot gladden the heart of one and hurt the other. So, I choose Nakula, if one of my brothers is to live. I would rather give up my life than give up Dharma. I want the world to know that I will never abandon Dharma".
The Yaksha was very much pleased with the nobility of Yudishtira. He said: "You are great. I am not going to see anybody like you at any time. I am very happy to grant you the lives of ALL YOUR BROTHERS".
The moment he said that, all brothers rose up as though from a deep sleep. They found that all their thirst, hunger and fatigue had all vanished. Yudishtira hugged all of them again and again. He fell at the feet of Yaksha and said: "My Lord! I want to know who you are. You are not a yaksha. No Yaksha knows all the nuances of dharma as you do. You must be a god from above. You are someone very dear to us. Whoever you may be, you must reveal yourself to me. I am eager to know who you are".
The Yaksha now stood in his natural form. He smiled at Yudishtira and said: "I am Dharma, your father. I wanted to see you and talk to you. I am very pleased with you. You will conquer the world with these brothers of yours. But what is pleasing to me is the fact that you have already conquered my kingdom; the kingdom of RIGHTEOUSNESS. Earthly victories are but pale and insignificant beside your conquest.
In Kali Yuga, the fourth quarter of Time, if people just pronounce your name they will become dear to me. Four names will have this greatness: the name of the king Nala of Nishadha, your name, the name of Sita, the wife of Shree Rama. The fourth is the name of one who is very dear to all of you, Krishna.
As for the Arani sticks stolen from the Brahmin, they were stolen by me. I wanted to get you to this lake. Now you can take them back to him. I will grant you another boon. Your exile of twelve years is over. The last and most difficult year is imminent. I assure you, because of my grace, no one will be able to recognize you at any time. You can disguise yourselves and go anywhere you choose. No one will be able to find your real identities".
Yudishtira's joy went to great heights. He placed his head on the two feet of his father and wept unrestrainedly. He spoke to his father: "I do not want anything else in life. I have seen your blessed form. I will receive with gratitude the boons you blessed on me. But, my Lord! I want just one more boon".
Dharma Raja looked at him to continue. He promised that he will grant whatever he wants.
Yudishtira said: "My Lord! Please grant me victory in my fight over the six of my deadly enemies: lust, anger, avarice, possessiveness, arrogance and envy. Please grant that my mind be always led towards truth. I want nothing else in this world".
Dharma smiled at him and said: "My child! There is no need to grant you something you already have. You have conquered these enemies long ago! Go, my children, and be happy. I am on your side. Where I am, there will be Victory. Where Krishna is there will I always be. Your sufferings will soon be over. Nothing can hurt you, as long as you think of me. I wish you well".
HERE ENDS THE YAKSHA PRASHNAM.
The boon that Yudishtira asks from Dharma Raja shows that the world, the kingdom, the riches, the victory etc never had any impact on him. The last answer where he said "The man to whom the agreeable and the disagreeable, weal and woe, the past and the future are the same is considered to possess every kind of wealth" – Yudishtira himself is the essence of this answer.
All sadhanas we undertake is to win the six enemies. Prahlada asked his father Hiranyakashipu 'what is the use of being proud that you are the Lord of the world when you have not won the six enemies inside you'. The one who conquers the kaama, krodha, lobha, madaa, moha and maatsarya is the real conqueror and a wealthy man. In him alone the Lord resides.
We will do a summary of all the questions and answers in the next week.
HARI OM!
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