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!