Yaksha Prashna-Part III

Vedanta

oi-Priya Devi

By Priya Devi

Thursday, May 20, 2010, 15:57

Continued From Part II

Yaksha: “What is ambrosia?"
Yudhishtira: “The cow's milk is Ambrosia"

Yaksha: “Who is the sustainer of all?"
Yudhishtira: "Air is the sustainer of all"

Yaksha: "Who wanders alone?"
Yudhishtira: “The sun wanders alone."

Yaksha: "Who is born again and again?"
Yudhishtira: "Moon is born again and again"

Yaksha: "Which is the container of all?"
Yudhishtira: "Earth is the container of all"

Yaksha: “Who is the self of man?"
Yudhishtira: "A son is the self of man"

Yaksha: "Who is a god-sent friend?" '
Yudhishtira: “Wife is the god-sent friend"

Yaksha: "One what does one live?"
Yudhishtira: "On rain does one live"

Yaksha: “What should be one's interest?"
Yudhishtira: "One's interest should be in doing charity"

Yaksha: "By losing what one becomes dear?"
Yudhishtira: "By losing one's self-importance one becomes dear"

Yaksha: "By losing what one does not grieve?"
Yudhishtira: "By losing getting rid of one's anger, one does not grieve"

Yaksha: “By losing what one does become purposeful (wealthy)"
Yudhishtira: "By losing one's passion one becomes purposeful (wealthy)"

Yaksha: "By losing what, one becomes happy?"
Yudhishtira: "By losing greed one would be happy."

Yaksha: "By what is the world enveloped?"
Yudhishtira: “The world is enveloped by ignorance"

Yaksha: ''Why does it not shine?"
Yudhishtira:"It does not shine because of darkness (Tamas)"

Yaksha: "Who would desert his friends?"
Yudhishtira: "A greedy man would desert his friends"

Yaksha: “By what reason, one does not reach heavens?"
Yudhishtira: "Because of attachments one does not reach heavens"

Yaksha: "When does a man die?" (as good as dead)
Yudhishtira: “When he becomes poor"

Yaksha: "When does a kingdom die?" (as good as naught)
Yudhishtira: "When it does not have a king."

Yaksha: "When do obsequies die?" (useless)
Yudhishtira: “When they are performed without the learned in the scriptures"

Yaksha: "When does a sacrifice die?" (as good as worthless)
Yudhishtira: “When it is devoid of charity (dakshina)"

Yaksha: ''What is food?"
Yudhishtira: "Sense-objects are food"

Yaksha: "What is poison."
Yudhishtira: "Desire is poision"

Yaksha: "What is Tapas (austerity)?
Yudhishtira: “To perform one's own duty is tapas"

Yaksha: “What is self-control?"
Yudhishtira:"Keeping the mind under control is self-control"

Yaksha: “What is shame?"
Yudhishtira: "Withdrawing from doing bad deeds is shame"

Yaksha: "Oh King, what is wisdom?"
Yudhishtira: "Understanding the true nature of Tatva (Reality)"

Yaksha: "What is compassion?"
Yudhishtira:"Compassion is wishing for the happiness of all"

Yaksha: "Who is the invincible enemy of man?"
Yudhishtira: "Anger is the invincible (difficult) enemy of man"

Yaksha: "Which is the incurable disease of man?"
Yudhishtira: "Greed is the incurable disease of man"

Yaksha: ''Who is pious?"
Yudhishtira: "One who is concerned with the welfare of all being"

Yaksha: ''Who is not pious?
Yudhishtira: "One who is cruel"

Yaksha: "Oh King, what is delusion?"
Yudhishtira:"Fanatism is delusion" (dharmamoodhat tuam)

Yaksha: "What is laziness?"
Yudhishtira: "Inactivity in one's own duty (dharma)"

Yaksha: "What is sorrow?"
Yudhishtira: "Ignorance is sorrow"

Yaksha: “What is courage?"
Yudhishtira: "Control over the senses"

Yaksha: “What is steadfastness?"
Yudhishtira: “To abide by one's own dharma, duty"

Yaksha: “What is bathing?"
Yudhishtira: “To cleanse the mind of its dirt"

Yaksha: “What is charity?"
Yudhishtira: “Protecting all beings is charity."

To be continued

About the author

This article is written by Satyashree for the 'Vedanta Vani' magazine of Chinmaya Mission.