Yaksha Prasna-Part IV

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Yaksha: "Please tell me. Oh King, definitely, by what does a person attain the state of Brahminhood? Is it by birth, by study, by conduct or by learning?"

Yudhishtira: "Listen, oh, Yaksha, that none attains the state of Brahminhood by his birth, nor by his study or by the learning. It is undoubtedly, one's own conduct that is responsible for his brahminhood.Therefore, one especially a brahmin, should watch his conduct and maintain it without any lapses. A person who has not gone down in his conduct, would prosper; whereas one who has lost his conduct, is as good as dead.

A teacher, the taught and those others who are interested in scriptures and sastras, if they are indulgent they should be treated as fools. Only he who maintains his conduct and character is verily a Pandit. A very learned person in all the four Vedas if he is of bad conduct. would be worse than a low-born. One who maintains his sacrificial fire, austere and self-control is verily a brahmin."

Yaksha: “What is the greatest wonder in the world?"

Yudhishtira: "Every day people are dying and reaching the abode of death. Still the living desire to live for ever. Could there be a greater wonder?"

Yaksha: "What is the right path?

Yudhishtira: "Logic and reasoning is invalid; many are the laws and scriptures, differing from one another; there is no single sage whose words could be an authority. The essence of Dharma is hidden in the deep cave. The path tread by the pious and the wise is the right path."

The Yaksha was very much pleased. He told Yudhishtira that he was satisfied by the answers to all the questions.

Yaksha told Yudhishtira that he may ask for the life of anyone of his brothers. Yudhishtira asked; “May Nakula, the dark, the red eyed, the broad shouldered lying there like a big Shala tree be alive."

Yaksha was wonders truck. He said: “Bheema and Arjuna are dear to you. Then, why did you ask for the life of Nakula. your step-brother?"

Yudhishtira gave the reply which has become the most famous statement in the Mahabharata.

"If one were to kill the dharma, it would kill him in turn; and when one protects dharma, he would be protected by the Dharma"

Therefore, I shall not transgress the dharma, and I don't want to be destroyed by the dharma, killed by me. Non-cruelty and nonviolence towards others (anrushamsm) is the supreme dharma and it is the supreme goal. I shall abide by it. Oh, Yaksha may Nakula live! My father had two wives, Kunti, my mother and Madri, my step mother whose son is Nakula. Just like Kunti my mother, Madri is also my mother; there is no distinction. I want these mothers of mine to be treated equally, May Nakula live!"

Yaksha replied: “Yes, Non-cruelty is the supreme dharma. May all your brothers come back to life" The Yaksha was none other than Yama, the father of Yudhishtira. who came to meet, test and bless him.

The questions asked by Yaksha are not random, but they are very methodical and have a psychological sequence leading from one to the other.