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Post by sarmasastrigal on Sept 10, 2012 11:43:04 GMT 5.5
YAKSHA PRASNA (Excerpts from the English book titled 'THE GREAT HINDU TRADITION' which has an insight into Vedic Principles, Sastras and Heritage)
One day, during their exile of Pandavas, a deer carries away samids (a particular variety of sticks) of a Sage. The Sage cries for help sincewithout them he cannot perform his daily karmas. Pandavas decide to help him and run deep into the jungle in search of the deer. Overcome by thirst from the long chase, they look for drinking water and Nakula finds a lake.
When he is about to drink the water he hears a Yaksha’s voice asking him not to drink the water until he answers his questions.
Without bothering, Nakula continues to drink and falls dead. Other brothers Sahadeva, Arjuna and Bhima follow Nakula and also die.
Yudhishtra instead starts answering the questions of the Yaksha. His answers satisfy the Yaksha, who is actually Lord Yama.
Two sample questions and answers:
1. Yaksha: What should a man abandon,to become lovable,to grieve less, to become rich and to become happy? Yudhishtra: Abandoning pride, man becomes lovable; abandoning anger, he grieves not; abandoning desire, he becomes rich; abandoning avarice, he becomes happy.
2. Yaksha: What is the greatest wonder of the world? Yudhishtra: The fact that people think that they are permanent in spite of the fact that they see with their own eyes several people dying every day. Could there be a greater wonder than this?
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Post by Sumi on Sept 10, 2012 11:50:40 GMT 5.5
Excellent Post, Shri Sastrigal. Thank you.
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Post by athmapremprakash on Sept 10, 2012 12:10:23 GMT 5.5
Jaya Jaya Shankara, Hara Hara ShANKARA
WONDERFUL
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Post by brindavankanchi on Sept 10, 2012 12:23:19 GMT 5.5
sarmasastrigal, NAMASKARAMS TO YOU SIR.
Sir, it would be great if you post entire CHRCHA between YAKSHA and YUDHISHTRA. May then you can elaborate on them.
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