Yaksha Prasannam ( Part 2) : Keen & Wise

“O Yudhishthira, what is heavier than the Earth?” asked the Yaksha.

“Mother,” replied Dharmaputra.

“What is higher than the sky?”
“Father.”

“What is faster than the wind?”
“The mind.”

“What grows faster than grass?”
“Worry.”

“Who is a householder’s friend?”
“His wife.”

“Who is the friend of a sick person?”
“A physician.”

“Who is the friend of a dying man?”
“The charity he has given.”

“What is nectar (Amrita)?”
“Cow’s milk.”

“What pervades the entire universe?”
“Air fills the whole cosmos.”

“What covers the world?”
“Darkness.”

“What is the path?”
“That which is righteous is the path.”

“What is poison?”
“Anything obtained through begging.”

“What is true restraint?”
“Control of the mind.”

“What is patience?”
“To endure enmity.”

“What is shame?”
“To refrain from improper actions.”

“What is knowledge?”
“To realize the truth.”

“What is peace?”
“Peace of mind.”

“What is compassion?”
“To wish for the happiness of all beings.”

“What is the unconquerable enemy?”
“Anger.”

“What is the endless disease of humans?”
“Greed.”

“Who is a righteous person?”
“One who desires the happiness of all living beings.”

“Who is unrighteous?”
“One who lacks compassion.”

“What is ignorance?”
“Not knowing one’s duty.”

“What is the highest refuge of Dharma?”
“Charity.”

“What is the refuge of happiness?”
“Good conduct.”

“What is a man’s soul?”
“His son.”

“What is the greatest among all worthy deeds?”
“Efficiency in action.”

“What is the most valuable possession?”
“Knowledge.”

“What is the greatest gain?”
“Health.”

“What is the greatest happiness?”
“Contentment.”

Contentment. It does not come easily to anyone. But once attained, it leaves no room for greed or jealousy. This is a profound thought that deeply touched my heart.

To the question, “What is the highest duty in the world?”, Dharmaputra answers:
Not harming others is the greatest of all duties.

“What is the right path?”
The path followed by the wise elders is the right path for us.

“What, when controlled, does not lead to sorrow?”
If the mind is controlled, it will not lead to sorrow.

“Who never breaks friendship?”
Friendship with good people never breaks, says Dharmaputra.

“What, when given up, makes a person acceptable to others?” asks the Yaksha.
By giving up pride, a person becomes acceptable, replies Dharmaputra.

“What, when abandoned, does not lead to sorrow?”
Giving up anger prevents sorrow.

“What, when given up, makes a person wealthy?”
By renouncing desire, a person becomes truly wealthy.

“What, when given up, brings happiness?”
Giving up greed leads to happiness.

“What causes friends to be abandoned?”
Greed causes friendships to be lost.

“By what is a man considered dead?” asks the Yaksha.
A man without wealth is considered dead, replies Dharmaputra.
This remains relevant for all times.

“What is pride?”
Thinking that one alone acts or suffers in life is pride.

“What is laziness?”
Failing to perform one’s duties is laziness.

“What is sorrow?”
Ignorance itself is sorrow.

“What is steadfastness?” asks the Yaksha.
Standing firm in one’s dharma is true steadfastness.

“What is patience?”
Controlling the senses is true patience.

“What is true purity?”
A mind free from impurities is true purity.

“What is charity?” asks the Yaksha.
Protecting all living beings is charity.

“Who should be called learned?”
One who knows his duties is truly learned.

“Who is called an atheist?”
One without wisdom is an atheist.

“What is jealousy?” asks the Yaksha.
Mental distress itself is jealousy, replies Dharmaputra.

“What is hypocrisy?”
Pretending to others that one follows righteousness is hypocrisy.

“What is a bad quality?”
Speaking ill of others is a bad quality.

“What is the benefit of speaking pleasant and appropriate words?” asks the Yaksha.
Such a person becomes dear to everyone.

“What is the benefit of acting with determination?”
A determined person succeeds in what he attempts.

“What is the benefit of dedicating oneself to righteousness?”
Such a person attains happiness in the afterlife.

“Who is truly happy?” asks the Yaksha.
One who is free from debt, not forced to live away from home, and who eats a simple meal prepared in his own home each day is truly happy, says Dharmaputra.

“What is the greatest wonder?”
Though people see others dying every day, they believe they will live forever—this is the greatest wonder.

“What is the daily news?” asks the Yaksha.
Time is the cook, the world is the vessel, the sun is the fire fueled by day and night, and months and seasons are the ladles—time is constantly ‘cooking’ all beings. This is the daily news.

“Who is truly a man?” asks the Yaksha.
As long as the fame of one’s good deeds spreads across the earth and reaches heaven, he is called a man.

“Who possesses all kinds of wealth?” asks the Yaksha.
One who sees pleasure and pain, past and future, favorable and unfavorable situations equally—such a person is said to possess all kinds of wealth.

Let us continue further…

Shanmugapriya K Sambathkumar