03.297
Questions (put forth) by the yakṣa.
Vaiśampāyana said.
He saw his slain brothers, fallen like the guardians of the worlds at the end of an age, each equal in dignity to Indra. (03-297-1)
Having seen Arjuna, his bow and arrows scattered, slain, Bhimasena, and both the sons of Yama (Nakula and Sahadeva), all motionless and lifeless. (03-297-2)
He, letting out a long, warm sigh and overwhelmed by tears of sorrow, pondered with his intellect: by whom have the heroes been slain? (03-297-3)
There is no influence of weapons on these; there is no place here for anyone. I think that this is a great calamity by which my brothers have been slain. I shall contemplate with one-pointed mind, or know (what has happened) after drinking water. (3-297-4)
But perhaps this was secretly done by Duryodhana; composed constantly by the king of Gandhara, who is of crooked mind. (03-297-5)
Who would place trust in one, O hero, for whom what should be done and not done are the same indeed? In one with an undisciplined self and an evil mind, who could trust? (03-297-6)
Now, the mighty-armed one considered in many ways, thinking, "Or perhaps this scheme of the wicked one might have been carried out in secret by men." (03-297-7)
He thought, "Since my brothers' complexions are bright, this water was not polluted by poison." (03-297-8)
Individually, who else except Kāla, Antaka, or Yama could match these foremost men of immense strength? (03-297-9)
By means of this resolute effort, he entered that water; and while immersing himself in that water, he heard (something) from the sky. (03-297-10)
The Yakṣa said;
I am the heron who eats moss and fish; your younger brothers have been led by me to the realm of the dead. Prince, you will be the fifth if you do not answer the questions I ask. (03-297-11)
O dear one, do not act rashly; I have a prior claim. But, O son of Kunti, after asking questions, then drink and enjoy. (03-297-12)
Yudhiṣṭhira spoke.
Are you the principal among the Rudras, the Vasus, or the Maruts? I ask, who are you, O divine one? This was not an act done by omen. (03-297-13)
Who, by their splendor, cast down these four mountains—Himavat, Pāriyātra, Vindhya, and Malaya—upon the earth? (03-297-14)
You have accomplished an extraordinarily great deed, O foremost of the mighty; that act which neither the gods, nor the gandharvas, nor the asuras, nor even the rākṣasas could withstand in the great battle—what you have done is truly extraordinary. (03-297-15)
I do not know what your purpose is, nor do I understand what is desired. Great curiosity has arisen, and fear has also come to me. (03-297-16)
O venerable one, because I am agitated at heart and have developed a headache on account of someone, I ask you, who are you who is standing here? (03-297-17)
The yakṣa said.
"I am a Yaksha; good fortune to you. I am not a bird nor a water-creature. By me, all your brothers of great energy were slain." (03-297-18)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then, O king, having heard that inauspicious and harsh speech uttered by the Yakṣa, he approached and stood there. (03-297-19)
A yakṣa with deformed eyes, a great body, palmyra-tree-like height, the appearance of fire and the sun, unassailable, and mountain-like. (03-297-20)
The chief of the Bharata race saw the mighty one standing on the bridge, threatening with a voice as deep as a cloud. (03-297-21)
The yakṣa said.
O king, these brothers of yours, though I repeatedly tried to restrain them, desired to take water by force, and therefore I killed them. (03-297-22)
O king, the water is not to be drunk by one here wishing to preserve life. O Pārtha, do not act rashly; this is my previous condition. But, O son of Kunti, after answering the questions, then drink and refresh yourself. (03-297-23)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
I do not wish, Yakṣa, for your former attachment. Truly, good people never praise such things, for men never approve this. (03-297-24)
O lord, a person should praise his own self through himself; but I shall answer your questions according to my knowledge—ask me. (03-297-25)
yakṣa said.
What truly raises the sun? Who circles around him? Who leads him to setting? And in what does he abide? (03-297-26)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
The Veda raises the sun; the gods move around it. Dharma leads it to its setting and remains established in truth. (03-297-27)
yakṣa said.
By what means does one become learned in the Vedas? By what is greatness attained? By what does one gain a companion, O King? And by what does one become wise? (03-297-28)
Yudhishthira said.
A person becomes learned through study, attains greatness through austerity, gains companionship through perseverance, and becomes wise by serving elders. (03-297-29)
Yakṣa said.
What is the divinity of brāhmaṇas? What is their duty, as if of the virtuous? What is their human nature? What, as if of these unvirtuous? (03-297-30)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
Self-study is their divinity, austerity is like that of the virtuous; death is their human nature, and reproach is like that of the wicked. (03-297-31)
The yakṣa said.
What is the divinity of the kṣatriyas, what is their duty as that of the virtuous? And what is their human nature, what is it like that of the unvirtuous? (03-297-32)
Yudhishthira said.
For these, the bow and arrows are their divinity, and sacrifice is as for the virtuous; fear, indeed, is a human trait, and abandoning (these) is like that of the wicked. (03-297-33)
The Yakṣa said.
Which is the one Sāman fit for sacrifice? Which is the one Yajus fit for sacrifice? Which one (feminine) cuts the sacrifice, and which does the sacrifice not surpass? (03-297-34)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
Breath truly is the Sāman fit for sacrifice; mind truly is the Yajus fit for sacrifice. Speech alone cuts the sacrifice, and the sacrifice does not surpass her. (03-297-35)
The Yakṣa spoke.
What is the best among those who attack? What is excellent among those who fall? What is (praiseworthy) among those who stand firm? What is excellent among those who speak? (3-297-36)
Yudhishthira said.
Rain is the best of all things that fall; seed is the noblest of what drops; among those that stand firmly, the cow is best; and of those who speak, the son is the best. (03-297-37)
Yakṣa said.
Who does not live, experiencing sense-objects, being intelligent, honored by people, and respected by all beings, while breathing? (03-297-38)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
He who, breathing, does not make offerings to the five—deity, guest, servants, ancestors, and himself—does not truly live. (03-297-39)
The yakṣa said.
What, indeed, is heavier than the earth? What is higher than the sky? What is swifter than the wind? What is more numerous among men? (03-297-40)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
Mother is heavier than the earth; father is higher than the sky; the mind is swifter than the wind; and the thought of men is greater in quantity. (03-297-41)
The yakṣa said.
What is there that while sleeping does not close its eyes? What, being born, does not die? Whose is there no heart? What grows quickly? (03-297-42)
Yudhishthira said.
A fish does not blink when asleep; a newly born egg does not rush forward; stone does not have a heart; a river increases with speed. (03-297-43)
Yakṣa said.
Who indeed is a friend to a person living abroad, and who is a friend to one residing at home? For the afflicted, who is a friend? And for one about to die, who truly is a friend? (03-297-44)
Yudhishthira said.
For one traveling abroad, a caravan is a friend; for one staying at home, the wife is a friend; for the distressed, a physician is a friend; for one dying, a gift is a friend. (03-297-45)
Yakṣa spoke.
What truly moves alone, being born? Who is born again? What is, indeed, the remedy for the mind? What, indeed, is the great removal? (03-297-46)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
The sun traverses alone, while the moon returns again and again. Fire is the remedy for cold, and the earth is the great receiver. (03-297-47)
The Yakṣa said:
What indeed is the single word which is righteousness? What indeed is the single word that is fame? What indeed is the single word that leads to heaven? What indeed is the single word that is happiness? (3-297-48)
Yudhishthira said.
Skillfulness has righteousness as its sole foundation; giving leads solely to fame; truthfulness alone brings heaven; good character alone leads to happiness. (03-297-49)
A Yakṣa said.
What truly is the self of a man? What is a man’s friend, appointed by fate? What is his means of living, and what truly is his ultimate refuge? (03-297-50)
Yudhishthira said.
The son is a man's own self; the wife is given by fate; a friend is of divine making. Means of living and rain are his support, and charity is his last refuge. (03-297-51)
Yakṣa said.
What is truly the highest among the fortunate? What is the best among riches? What is the greatest among gains, and similarly, what is the highest among pleasures? (03-297-52)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
For the fortunate, ability is the highest; of riches, learning is the best; of all gains, health is the greatest; and among pleasures, contentment is supreme. (03-297-53)
The yakṣa said.
Which righteousness is supreme in the world, and which righteousness always bears fruit? What should one restrain so as not to grieve, and by what does a union never deteriorate? (03-297-54)
Yudhishthira said.
Non-cruelty is the highest duty; the Vedic duty always bears fruit. The good do not grieve when their minds are restrained; alliance with them does not wither. (03-297-55)
The yakṣa said.
What, when abandoned, becomes dear? What, when abandoned, brings freedom from grief? What, when abandoned, makes one wealthy? What, when abandoned, brings happiness? (03-297-56)
Yudhishthira said.
When one gives up pride, he becomes loved; when one relinquishes anger, he does not grieve. By abandoning desire, he becomes prosperous; and by giving up greed, he may become happy. (03-297-57)
The yakṣa said:
How could a man be dead? How could a kingdom die? How can a śrāddha be dead, and how could a sacrifice become dead? (03-297-58)
Yudhishthira said.
A poor man is as good as dead; a kingdom without a king is dead; a śrāddha ceremony without a Śrotriya (Vedic scholar) is dead; a sacrifice without a gift is considered dead. (03-297-59)
The yakṣa said.
O Pārtha, which is the direction, what is the water said (to be), what is the food, what is the poison? Tell the time of śrāddha; then drink and take (it). (03-297-60)
Yudhiṣṭhira spoke.
What do you think, Yakṣa: are good men, direction, water, sky, white food, request, and poison the time, Brāhmaṇa, for the śrāddha rite, or how do you see it? (03-297-61)
The Yakṣa said.
The questions have been truly explained by you, O subduer of foes. Now tell me about the being, the man who possesses all wealth. (03-297-62)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
The sound of a meritorious deed reaches both heaven and earth; as long as that sound remains, a person is called a man. (03-297-63)
He whose attitude is equal towards what is dear and not dear, towards pleasure and pain, and towards both past and future—he indeed is the truly wealthy man. (03-297-64)
The yakṣa said.
The man, the noble, and the possessor of all wealth have been identified. Therefore, of your brothers, let that one whom you desire, live. (03-297-65)
Yudhishthira said.
May this dark-complexioned, red-eyed Nakula, standing tall like a great Śāla tree, broad-chested and mighty-armed, live, O Yaksha. (03-297-66)
Yakṣa said.
Bhimasena is dear to you; this Arjuna is your support. Then why, O King, do you wish for Nakula, your rival's son, to remain alive? (03-297-67)
Abandoning Bhīma, whose strength is indeed equal to that of ten thousand elephants, you desire the life of Nakula. (03-297-68)
Thus, men said to Bhīmasena, who is dear to you, "So, by what power do you wish to live with a rival?" (3-297-69)
Whose arm strength all the Pāṇḍavas have relied upon, having abandoned Arjuna, you seek to save Nakula's life. (03-297-70)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
Non-cruelty is the highest duty—this is my belief, superior even to the greatest good. I wish to act with compassion; O Yaksha, let Nakula live. (03-297-71)
Men always know me as a king of righteous disposition. I will not turn away from my own duty, Nakula. Yaksha, may he live. (03-297-72)
Just as there is no distinction for me between Kuntī and Mādrī, so among the two mothers I wish equally — Yakṣa, let Nakula live. (03-297-73)
The Yakṣa said;
For whom, to you, compassion is esteemed as supreme over wealth and desire; therefore, let all your brothers live, O best of the Bharatas. (03-297-74)
