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š Yaksha Prashnam: Questions 1ā16
Below is a detailed summary of the first sixteen questions asked by the Yaksha to Yudhishthira. This exchange highlights profound truths about nature, duty, and human behavior.
| No. | Question (English) | Sanskrit Question | Yudhishthiraās Answer | Story / Explanation š |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What is it that makes the sun rise up? | Kiį¹svid Ädityam Unnayati? | Brahma (The Vedas/Supreme Truth) | The Veda makes the sun rise. Story: Nature performs its duties out of respect for the Supreme (BhÄ«į¹£ÅdÄti SÅ«ryaha). Even the Sun rises due to the command of the Brahma. |
| 2 | Who are his surrounding attendants? | Ke Tasya Abhitaįø„ CharÄįø„? | Devas (The Gods) | The Devas are his attendants. Explanation: Just as a VIP does not walk alone, the Sun is accompanied by Devas, Gandharvas, and Rishis throughout his journey. š„ |
| 3 | Who makes the sun set? | KaÅ Chainam Astam Nayati? | Dharma | Dharma makes the sun set. Story: Krishna explained Dharma to Arjuna using fire and water. Just as heat is the Dharma of fire, setting at the appointed time is the inherent Dharma of the Sun. š |
| 4 | In which is he firmly placed? | Kasmin Cha Pratiį¹£į¹hitaįø„? | Satyam (Truth) | He is firmly grounded in Truth. Explanation: The Sun does not fall because he is established in Truth. The precision of the Sun (predicted a year in advance) is proof of this grounding. āļø |
| 5 | By what does a person become a Vedic scholar? | Kena Svid Shrotriyo Bhavati? | Srutena (Listening) | By Vedic culture/listening a person becomes a scholar. Story: One becomes a scholar through Sruti (listening), not just birth. As the Thirukkural says, "The wealth of the ear is the greatest wealth." š |
| 6 | By what means does he attain the Great? | Kena Svid Vindate Mahat? | Tapasa (Penance) | By Tapas a person attains the Great. Story: When Brahma was born on the lotus, he found his purpose only after hearing "Ta-Pa" and performing penance to attain the power to create. š§ |
| 7 | By what does a person acquire a second to him? | Kena Svid DvitÄ«yavÄn Bhavati? | Dhriti (Steadfastness) | By steadfastness a person acquires a second. Explanation: Dhriti means consistency. Just as a student must be consistent to succeed, steadfastness allows one to sustain a companion or result. š¤ |
| 8 | By what means does a man become wise? | Kena Cha BuddhimÄn? | Vriddha Sevaya (Serving Elders) | By service of elders a person becomes wise. Explanation: Intelligence comes from serving learned elders with humility. A pleased guru imparts knowledge, such as proper etiquette and wisdom. š“ |
| 9 | What is the divine nature of Brahmanas? | Kim BrÄhmaį¹ÄnÄm Devatvam? | Swadhyaya (Vedic Study) | The practice of Vedas is their divine nature. Explanation: A Brahmana achieves god-like status through constant practice. Like a musician practicing for perfection, they must practice to retain Vedic potency. š |
| 10 | What is their right conduct similar to that of the good? | KaÅ Cha Dharmaįø„ SatÄm Iva? | Tapas (Penance) | Their Tapas is similar to that of the good. Story: Maintaining Tapas is difficult. Vishwamitra lost his Tapas due to the Apsara Menaka but had to perform it again to regain his stature. š„ |
| 11 | In what consists their ordinary human nature? | KaÅ Chaiį¹£Äį¹ MÄnuį¹£o BhÄvaįø„? | Maranam (Death) | Their mortality is the ordinary human nature. Explanation: Despite learning or Tapas, they are subject to death. The certainty of leaving the body is the shared human trait. š |
| 12 | What is it in them that is similar to that of the bad? | Kim Eį¹£Äį¹ AsatÄm Iva? | Parivado (Gossip) | Talking scandal is their conduct similar to that of the bad. Analogy: Just as food gets stuck between teeth (Dvijas), secrets get stuck between the "twice-born" (Dvijas). They struggle to keep secrets and eventually gossip. š£ļø |
| 13 | What constitutes the divineness of Kshatriyas? | Kiį¹ Kį¹£atriyÄį¹Äį¹ Devatvam? | Astras & Shastras (Weapons) | Arrows and missiles constitute their divineness. Story: Arjuna went to Indraloka specifically to acquire divine weapons (Astras), proving that weaponry is the divine aspect of a warrior. š¹ |
| 14 | What is their quality similar to that of goodness? | KaÅ Cha Dharmaįø„ SatÄm Iva? | Yajna (Sacrifice) | Yagnas or sacrifices are their good qualities. Explanation: A King's duty is to perform Yagnas to ensure rain and prosperity for the state and the welfare of the people. š„ |
| 15 | What constitutes their humanness? | KaÅ Chaiį¹£Äį¹ MÄnuį¹£o BhÄvaįø„? | Bhayam (Fear) | Fear is their humanness. Story: Prince Uttara Kumara boasted about fighting but was gripped by fear and wanted to flee when he actually saw the Kaurava army. šØ |
| 16 | What is their quality similar to that of bad men? | Kim Eį¹£Äį¹ AsatÄm Iva? | Parityago (Abandonment) | Abandonment of the afflicted is their bad quality. Story: Rama killed Vali because Vali did not accept Sugriva's surrender. Refusing to protect a refugee is a grave sin for a warrior. š« |
š„ Reference
š Acknowledgment & Disclaimer
These articles are based on discourses by Sri Dushyanth Sridhar, who renders discourses in English & Tamil on RÄmÄyana, MahÄbhÄrata, BhÄgavata, Vishnu PurÄna, Bhagavad GitÄ, Vishnu SahasranÄma, and Divya Prabanda in the upanyÄsam, pravachanam, or kÄlakshepam style. Visit [https://desikadaya.org](https://desikadaya.org) for more information. These notes are presented solely for educational purposes to help viewers download and benefit from these teachings. Any incorrect interpretations or inaccuracies are mine and unintentionalāplease forgive me. For any feedback, please send an email.