Yaksha Questions Yudhishthira on Dharma
Yudhishthira finds his four brothers dead beside a forbidden lake, struck down by a mysterious yaksha who demands he answer questions or join them. With patience and humility, Yudhishthira faces a relentless interrogation on the nature of dharma, life, and wisdom — and his answers will determine whether his brothers live or die.
The Pandavas were dying of thirst in the forest. One by one, Yudhishthira sent his brothers to find water. One by one, they did not return.
He went himself, following their tracks to a lake of clear, still water. Beside it lay Nakula, Sahadeva, Arjuna, and Bhimasena — each fallen as if asleep, but dead. Yudhishthira stood over them and wept. He did not understand what could have killed them.
A voice spoke from the lake. It was deep, harsh, like thunder rolling across stone.
“I am a crane that lives on aquatic plants and fish. I have taken your younger brothers to the land of the dead. If you do not answer my questions, you will be the fifth. Do not be foolish. Answer my questions. Then drink and take the water.”
Yudhishthira looked and saw the yaksha — malformed eyes, gigantic in form, as tall as a tala tree, as fiery as the sun and fire together, invincible like a mountain. He stood on a mound and censured Yudhishthira.
“These brothers of yours were repeatedly restrained by me. But they tried to drink the water by force and I killed them. This water should not be drunk by someone who desires his life. Answer my questions. Then drink and take.”
Yudhishthira replied, “I do not desire what you have possessed earlier. Learned men never praise such desires. Ask me. I will answer according to my wisdom.”
The yaksha began.
“What makes the sun rise? Who are those near him? What makes him set? On what is he established?”
“Brahma makes the sun rise. The gods remain near him. Dharma makes him set. He is established in truth.”
“How does one become learned? How does one attain greatness? How does one obtain a second? How does one become intelligent?”
“One becomes learned through the sacred texts. One attains greatness through austerities. One obtains a second through perseverance. One becomes intelligent by serving the elders.”
“What is the divine trait of brahmanas? What dharma of theirs is like that of the virtuous? What are their human traits? Which of their traits are like that of those without virtue?”
“The study of the Vedas is their divine trait. Austerities are like that of the virtuous. Mortality is their human trait. Slander is like the conduct of those without virtue.”
“What is the divine trait of kshatriyas? What dharma of theirs is like that of the virtuous? What are their human traits? Which of their traits are like that of those without virtue?”
“Arrows and weapons are their divine traits. Sacrifices are like that of the virtuous. Fear is their human trait. Desertion is like the conduct of those without virtue.”
“Which is the single sacrificial chant? What is the sacrificial formula? What do sacrifices need? What can sacrifices not transgress?”
“The breath of life is the single sacrificial chant. The mind is the sacrificial formula. Sacrifices need speech. Sacrifices cannot transgress speech.”
“What is the best among those that descend? What is supreme among those that are sown? What is the best among those that stand? What is supreme among those that speak?”
“Rain is best among those that descend. Seeds are supreme among those that are sown. Cows are best among those that stand. Sons are supreme among those that speak.”
“Who experiences the objects of the senses, is intelligent, is worshipped by all beings, and breathes, but is not alive?”
“A person who does not render offerings to the five — gods, guests, servants, ancestors, and himself — breathes, but is not alive.”
“What is heavier than the earth? What is higher than the sky? What is swifter than the wind? What is more numerous than men?”
“The mother is heavier than the earth. The father is higher than the sky. The mind is swifter than the wind. Worries are more numerous than men.”
“What does not close its eyes while asleep? What does not move when it is born? What has no heart? What grows through speeding?”
“A fish does not close its eyes while asleep. An egg does not move when it is born. A stone has no heart. A river grows through speeding.”
“Who is a friend to one who is travelling? Who is a friend at home? Who is a friend to one who is sick? Who is a friend to one who is about to die?”
“A caravan is a friend to a traveller. A wife is a friend at home. A physician is a friend to one who is sick. Charity is a friend to one who is about to die.”
“What travels alone? What is born again after birth? What is a cure for cold? What is the greatest field?”
“The sun travels alone. The moon is born again after birth. Fire is the cure for cold. The earth is the greatest field.”
“In a single word, what is dharma? In a single word, what is fame? In a single word, what is heaven? In a single word, what is happiness?”
“In a single word, dexterity is dharma. In a single word, generosity is fame. In a single word, truth is heaven. In a single word, conduct is happiness.”
“What is a man’s self? What is the friend given by destiny? What is the support of his life? What is the best refuge?”
“A son is a man’s self. The wife is the friend given by destiny. Rains are the support of his life. Generosity is the best refuge.”
“What is supreme among objects that are lauded? What is supreme among riches? What is the supreme gain? What is supreme happiness?”
“Dexterity is supreme among objects that are lauded. Knowledge of the sacred texts is supreme among riches. Health is the supreme gain. Satisfaction is supreme happiness.”
“What is supreme dharma in this world? What dharma always leads to fruits? What does not grieve when it is controlled? What alliance never breaks?”
“Non-violence is supreme dharma. The dharma of the three — study, sacrifice, and charity — always leads to fruits. The mind does not grieve when it is controlled. An alliance with the righteous never breaks.”
“If abandoned, what makes one pleasant? If abandoned, what does not lead to sorrow? If abandoned, what ensures prosperity? If abandoned, what makes one happy?”
“The abandoning of pride makes one pleasant. The abandoning of anger does not lead to sorrow. The abandoning of desire ensures prosperity. The abandoning of desire makes one happy.”
“When is a man dead? When is a kingdom dead? When is a funeral ceremony dead? When is a sacrifice dead?”
“A poor man is dead. A kingdom without a king is dead. A funeral ceremony performed without a learned brahmana is dead. A sacrifice performed without a donation to the priest is dead.”
The yaksha was satisfied. He said, “You have answered well. I will revive one of your brothers. Choose which one.”
Yudhishthira did not hesitate. “Let Nakula live.”
The yaksha asked why he chose Nakula over Bhimasena or Arjuna, the two warriors who would win him a kingdom.
Yudhishthira answered: “I am the son of Kunti. Nakula is the son of Madri. Both my mothers had two sons each. If I let Nakula die, Madri would have no son left. I am impartial. Let Nakula live.”
The yaksha was pleased. He revealed himself as Dharma, the god of righteousness, Yudhishthira’s own father. He restored all four brothers to life and blessed Yudhishthira with victory, prosperity, and a safe journey through the forest. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 594