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!